Synonyms of shirk

shirk

verb

ˈshərk 

1

as in to avoid

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

• avoid
• evade
• escape
• shun
• eschew
• elude
• shake
• prevent
• dodge
• eliminate
• deflect
• scape
• shuffle (out of)
• steer clear of
• finesse
• keep clear of
• fight shy of
• get around
• duck
• obviate
• weasel (out of)
• stay clear of
• avert
• preclude
• exclude
• circumvent
• miss
• ward (off)
• thwart
• debar
• rule out
• divert
• parry
• except
• ban
• outwit
• bypass
• foil
• frustrate
• fox
• outsmart
• bar
• overreach
• outfox
• skirt

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accept
• seek
• pursue
• embrace
• welcome
• incur
• catch
• contract
• court

2

as in to neglect

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

• neglect
• forget
• slack (off)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• do
• remember
• perform
• attend (to)
• carry out
• achieve
• accomplish
• execute
• maintain
• keep up

3

as in to lurk

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

• lurk
• sneak
• slip
• slide
• steal
• mouse
• snake
• crawl
• slink
• skulk
• pussyfoot
• creep
• tiptoe
• mooch
• edge
• ghost
• pad
• worm
• inch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shirk

But lawmakers often shirk that duty, enabling the executive branch to amass more power to send the military into combat without congressional approval. —Lisa Mascaro, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 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

By shirking their duty to maintain order and protect agents, these local officials endanger lives and undermine national security. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026