shrug off
verb
shrugged off; shrugging off; shrugs off
transitive verb
1
: to shake off
shrugging off sleep
2
: to brush aside : minimize
shrugs off the problem
3
: to remove (a garment) by wriggling out
Synonyms
- blink (at)
- brush (aside or off)
- condone
- discount
- disregard
- excuse
- forgive
- gloss (over)
- gloze (over)
- ignore
- overlook
- overpass
- paper over
- pardon
- pass over
- remit
- whitewash
- wink (at)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
an administration that was willing to shrug off the problem she shrugged off her coat and hung it up neatly
Word History
First Known Use
1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1
shrugging off
verb
1
as in ignoring
to dismiss as of little importance an administration that was willing to shrug off the problem Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ignoring
- forgiving
- passing over
- overlooking
- papering over
- explaining
- justifying
- pardoning
- winking (at)
- blinking (at)
- forgiving and forgetting
- disregarding
- glossing (over)
- brushing (aside or off)
- glozing (over)
- closing one's eyes to
- excusing
- discounting
- condoning
- whitewashing
- remitting
- overpassing
- rationalizing
- waving (aside or off)
- exculpating
- exonerating
- vindicating
- waiving
- acquitting
- absolving
- clearing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- objecting (to)
- marking
- noting
- heeding
- minding
2
as in removing
to rid oneself of (a garment) she shrugged off her coat and hung it up neatly Synonyms & Similar Words
- removing
- putting off
- taking off
- peeling (off)
- doffing
- kicking (off)
- dousing
- shedding
- stripping
- husking
- disrobing
- undressing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- throwing (on)
- slipping (into)
- putting on
- donning
- wearing
- clothing
- rigging
- dressing
- suiting
- arraying
- robing
- apparelling
- attiring
- bedecking
- appareling
- garbing