shirk
verb
ˈshərk 
shirked; shirking; shirks
intransitive verb
1
: to go stealthily : sneak
2
: to evade the performance of an obligation
transitive verb
: avoid, evade
shirk one's duty
shirker noun
Synonyms
- avoid
- dodge
- duck
- elude
- escape
- eschew
- evade
- finesse
- get around
- scape
- shake
- shuffle (out of)
- shun
- weasel (out of)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He's too conscientious to shirk his duty. He never shirked from doing his duty. They did their duty without shirking or complaining.
Recent Examples on the Web Both houses shirk modern style in favor of extravagant, over-the-top Old Hollywood style. 
Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2022 The defendants have all tried to shirk liability from the event. Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2022 From the start of the ceremony, the speakers didn’t shirk references to what students faced during their time at U-M. David Jesse, Detroit Free Press, 7 May 2022 The use of public health powers had been widely criticized by Democrats and immigration advocates as an excuse for the United States to shirk its obligations to provide haven to people fleeing persecution. chicagotribune.com, 1 Apr. 2022 The use of public health powers had been widely criticized by Democrats and immigration advocates as an excuse for the United States to shirk its obligations to provide haven to people fleeing persecution. Time, 1 Apr. 2022 The platforms themselves often shirk responsibility after putting out PR fires. Chandra Steele, PCMAG, 28 Feb. 2022 Edelman is very good on the weirdness of whiteness as an identity that is utterly revolting when proudly claimed yet impossible to willingly shirk. Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2022 Projecting guilt is a convenient way to shirk responsibility. Nuala Walsh, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2021 See More
Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2022 The defendants have all tried to shirk liability from the event. Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2022 From the start of the ceremony, the speakers didn’t shirk references to what students faced during their time at U-M. David Jesse, Detroit Free Press, 7 May 2022 The use of public health powers had been widely criticized by Democrats and immigration advocates as an excuse for the United States to shirk its obligations to provide haven to people fleeing persecution. chicagotribune.com, 1 Apr. 2022 The use of public health powers had been widely criticized by Democrats and immigration advocates as an excuse for the United States to shirk its obligations to provide haven to people fleeing persecution. Time, 1 Apr. 2022 The platforms themselves often shirk responsibility after putting out PR fires. Chandra Steele, PCMAG, 28 Feb. 2022 Edelman is very good on the weirdness of whiteness as an identity that is utterly revolting when proudly claimed yet impossible to willingly shirk. Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2022 Projecting guilt is a convenient way to shirk responsibility. Nuala Walsh, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
origin unknown
First Known Use
1681, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Kids Definition
shirk
verb
ˈshərk
shirked; shirking
: to avoid doing something especially because of laziness, fear, or dislike Don't shirk your chores.
shirks
verb
1
as in evades
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
Relevance
- evades
- avoids
- escapes
- shuns
- eschews
- eludes
- dodges
- deflects
- prevents
- shakes
- eliminates
- finesses
- scapes
- averts
- fights shy of
- circumvents
- excludes
- ducks
- precludes
- obviates
- weasels (out of)
- steers clear of
- shuffles (out of)
- stays clear of
- thwarts
- misses
- parries
- gets around
- debars
- keeps clear of
- diverts
- rules out
- excepts
- outwits
- outsmarts
- bans
- bypasses
- foils
- overreaches
- wards (off)
- outfoxes
- frustrates
- foxes
- bars
- skirts
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- accepts
- seeks
- embraces
- pursues
- welcomes
- incurs
- catches
- courts
- contracts
2
as in neglects
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
- neglects
- forgets
- slacks (off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- remembers
- performs
- does
- executes
- attends (to)
- achieves
- carries out
- accomplishes
- maintains
- keeps up
3
as in sneaks
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
- sneaks
- lurks
- slips
- steals
- slinks
- crawls
- slides
- skulks
- tiptoes
- mooches
- snakes
- pussyfoots
- creeps
- mouses
- edges
- inches
- ghosts
- worms
- pads