SHIRKED Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

shirked

verb

past tense of shirk

as in avoided

to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery you always try to shirk paying your fair share of the bill by claiming you "forgot" your wallet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in neglected

to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness a deadbeat who has been shirking his duty to his family for years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sneaked

to move about in a sly or secret manner given the multitude of auditoriums at the multiplex, it's not too difficult for underaged kids to shirk into R-rated movies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of shirked Before the verdict arrived, Musk’s lawyer apologized after Musk shirked a court order requiring him to be available in case any further testimony was needed in the case. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026 There is no question about his attitude or application; this is not a case of a player who has shirked responsibility or failed to work hard enough in training or in matches. — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026 Rudnev shirked money, power, and influence, of any kind. — William Jones, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026 Importers are supposed to notify Cal Fire when a shipment arrives, but a Bee investigation found that the companies linked to the Esparto property shirked that requirement for years. — Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 22 Jan. 2026 In the court’s majority opinion, Justice Amy Coney Barrett forcefully pushed back against Jackson’s suggestion the court shirked on its duty to protect the people from government overreach. — Ella Lee, The Hill, 27 June 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirked

Verb

Oswego avoided sending the ball near the speedy Konkey on kickoffs to prevent a repeat of last week’s scoring on a return.

— Jerry Birchfield, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
First, the Chiefs avoided an injury risk to Patrick Mahomes, who is recovering from knee surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL from last December.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of avoided

Verb

Outdated decor makes a space feel neglected, so refresh fabrics, lighting, and colors for a modern vibe.

— Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2026
However, there was insufficient evidence that Gemini had lied to its customers or neglected to do due diligence with Genesis Global Capital, its main lending partner, according to the ruling viewed by CNBC.

— Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of neglected

Verb

The couple snuck off the next weekend and got married on May 30, 1966 at the Ringgold Baptist Church in Ringgold, Ga.

— Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
While Bad Sisters snuck a nuanced portrait of sisterhood into a frantic whodunit, Youth lets its characters steep in the weirdness of ordinary life.

— Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of sneaked

Verb

In defending the ban against the latest challenge, the Justice Department points out that the tax was regularly evaded.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Earlier this month, the detectives were notified that the homicide suspect, who had evaded arrest, had died by suicide.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of evaded

Verb

The city of Atlanta has jurisdiction over Hartsfield-Jackson, but the threat of a state takeover of the world’s busiest airport has lurked in the background of Georgia politics for years.

— Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 5 Aug. 2026
But concerns lurked beneath the surface of an otherwise positive report.

— Jeff Cox, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of lurked

Verb

In the mechanical maintenance shop, five employees and the foreman escaped, but two were killed from exposure to the chemical, the report said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Simpson escaped pressure and rolled out to his left before firing a pass to diving receiver Brennan Presley for a touchdown.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of escaped

Verb

Zscaler — The cloud security company's stock slipped nearly 2% despite its earnings beat.

— Michelle Fox, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
The Office Romance star slipped on a stack of Fope’s gold mesh bracelets, topping off her ensemble with a Chanel handbag and Cartier earrings from the jeweler’s signature Panthère collection.

— Hannah Malach, InStyle, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of slipped

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“Shirked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirked. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of shirked

verb

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