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 The actress and singer shirked the traditional white dress in favor of a custom suit courtesy of Giorgio Armani for her Montalcino town hall ceremony to now-husband Damiano David in Italy on Thursday. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026 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

Our weak college presidents have avoided telling the truth for too long.

— Bruce Svare, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2026
That score came after Manning avoided a sack on a fourth down and found Emmett Mosley V for 62 yards to set up the TD pass.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of avoided

Verb

Los Sures Executive Director Juan Ramos said some landlords deliberately neglected or destroyed properties in an effort to force tenants out.

— Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
What the instructions neglected to mention was that there were two State Farm signs in the alley.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of neglected

Verb

It was announced on Saturday that Judkins and QB Deshaun Watson had been fined a cool $14,397, while guard Austin Barber, who also snuck a hit off of the invisible blunt, had to pony up $6,944.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Kraft also took a direct snap and sneaked for a first down on another fourth-and-1 at the Buccaneers 10.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of sneaked

Verb

Last year, a Houthi missile evaded Israel’s vaunted air defenses and impacted near Ben Gurion airport.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
State police said evidence was located at the scene which indicated that a 2022 Triumph Rocket 3 GT, operated by 56-year-old Alexander Rivera of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, was struck by vehicle that allegedly evaded the scene.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of evaded

Verb

Amanda Peet did all of that too, starting in her late 30s because of dense breast tissue and prior benign lumps, and her stage 1 invasive lobular carcinoma still slipped past her first scan.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
These were aspirationally scheduled for no earlier than mid and late October, respectively, but have now apparently slipped to mid-to-late November (though there has been no public confirmation of any firm target date).

— Andrew Jones, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of slipped

Verb

The Dallas Cowboys tight end slid into the former college athlete and influencer's DMs with a line that ended up working and anyone can use.

— Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Artificial Intelligence infrastructure plays Nebius Group and Iren also slid 5% and nearly 8%, respectively.

— Ananya Chetia,Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of slid

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“Shirked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirked. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of shirked

verb

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