shrug off

verb

Definition of shrug offnext
1
as in to ignore
to dismiss as of little importance an administration that was willing to shrug off the problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to remove
to rid oneself of (a garment) she shrugged off her coat and hung it up neatly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 shrug off Wrapped in a tough, drop-proof fabric shell that floats and shrugs off water, it is engineered to survive real-world chaos. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026 Podziemski shrugged off the importance of securing a new contract, at least in the immediate future. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2026 Vargo, 71, shrugged off criticism in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel. — Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026 Some are condemned swiftly and harshly, others are shrugged off almost entirely. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shrug off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shrug off
  1. ignore
  2. remove
  3. forgive
  4. put off
  5. overlook
  6. explain
  7. pass over
  8. justify
Verb
  • There is so much going on in all of our lives but far too much beauty in this world to ignore.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Many structures are built with substandard materials and safety regulations are frequently ignored to reduce costs.
    — Riaz Khan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of ignore
Verb
  • The woman contacted her 72-year-old father, who came out of the house to remove Gonzalez.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • While no service can promise to remove all your data from the internet, a data removal service can monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of remove
Verb
  • Season one struggled to incorporate all of those elements of Lee without either forgiving or betraying his flaws.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The technique is simple, the result is visible and the cut list is forgiving.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of forgive
Verb
  • And when his biceps injury flared again, and the discomfort extended up through his neck, the Dodgers put off an IL move as long as possible.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The family’s story is mostly told from the perspective of Barb, the youngest sibling, who pushes for answers but puts off obtaining her own genetic test results.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of put off
Verb
  • No little detail is overlooked, from interesting on-site activities (like watercolor painting in the courtyard) to immaculate turndown service.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The world may be overlooking its next important medical discovery.
    — Segun Fatumo, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of overlook
Verb
  • An elephantine star becoming a black hole doesn’t explain it either.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Maybe this explains why Effective Altruism—the idea that generosity should be subjected to evidence and calculation—seemed counterintuitive.
    — David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of explain
Verb
  • Chang was steadily promoted before he was passed over for the position of chief executive, perhaps for bamboo-ceiling reasons.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • After he was passed over for a promotion, his wife emailed HR demanding to know why.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of pass over
Verb
  • The targeting of civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, particularly airports, illustrates the retaliatory logic the Houthis have invoked to justify their actions.
    — Laurent Bonnefoy, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
  • There is always a new spectacle, a new gimmick to lure people into a theater and justify the cost of a ticket.
    — Sam Fleischner, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of justify

Browse Nearby Words

shrugging off
shrug off
shrugs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shrug off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shrug%20off. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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