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

Texas law requires certain professionals who have reasonable cause to believe a child has been abused or neglected to report the suspicion within 24 hours.

— Doug Myers, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
The recent transformation has breathed new life into the space, elevating it from neglected to polished while preserving its architectural roots.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 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

But Iran has, in many cases, successfully evaded the sanctions by setting up new front companies.

— Rob Wile, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026
The first, a corner, saw McBurnie free at the far post to hit a shot Lammens did well to claw out before the ball fell to Semi Ajayi in space in the six-yard box, having evaded Harry Maguire and Noussair Mazraoui.

— Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 23 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

Planned production was delayed by more than two years, while initial operational capability has slipped by roughly three and a half years to the third quarter of fiscal year 2030.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Finally, Brent Brennan’s first year at Arizona in 2024 went so badly (the Wildcats slipped from 10-3 to 4-8) there were rumors he might get fired before Year 2.

— Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of slipped

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“Shirked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirked. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of shirked

verb

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