Shirk
verb
To avoid doing something that should be done.
He's been shirking his responsibilities as a father.
Often appears as...
- shirk duty
- shirk responsibility
verb
To stay away from or avoid.
She shirked from making a decision.
Often appears as...
- shirk from decision
- shirk from confrontation
verb
To avoid doing something that should be done.
He's been shirking his responsibilities as a father.
Often appears as...
- shirk duty
- shirk responsibility
verb
To stay away from or avoid.
She shirked from making a decision.
Often appears as...
- shirk from decision
- shirk from confrontation
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Subtle avoidance
Use 'shirk' for indirect ways of avoiding duties, not just simple refusal.
He seemed busy, but actually, he was shirking his chores.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative connotation
'Shirk' often implies a judgment that someone is neglecting their obligations.
The teacher noticed how the student shirked her homework assignments.
Pro Tip 3/3Common collocations
'Shirk' is frequently used with 'duty,' 'responsibility,' and 'work.'
Every time there's work to be done, Brian tries to shirk duty.
Compare with
avoiddodgeduckeludeevadeneglectsidestepskip
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Video examples
What COVID-19 means for...
I'm not saying we're the be-all and end-all, but I don't think people should shirk their responsibilities of at least making a small difference going forward. If enough companies did that, if enough governments did that, it would make a real difference in the world.
Video examples
The Japanese folktale of...
to ensure her safe passage into the spirit world. The burial was complete, but the taboo of death weighed heavily on the scholar. How could he have been so foolish, to shirk his most important rule and corrupt his divine journey?
Video examples
Free Love PIPE National...
young man our giba dislikes leaving his lovers bed to return to his mom's house but giba knows he can't shirk his responsibilities to his family outsiders may find it exotic but most well family life has little to do with romance
Video examples
What COVID-19 means for...
I'm not saying we're the be-all and end-all, but I don't think people should shirk their responsibilities of at least making a small difference going forward. If enough companies did that, if enough governments did that, it would make a real difference in the world.
Video examples
The Japanese folktale of...
to ensure her safe passage into the spirit world. The burial was complete, but the taboo of death weighed heavily on the scholar. How could he have been so foolish, to shirk his most important rule and corrupt his divine journey?
Video examples
Free Love PIPE National...
young man our giba dislikes leaving his lovers bed to return to his mom's house but giba knows he can't shirk his responsibilities to his family outsiders may find it exotic but most well family life has little to do with romance
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
H. G. Wells
English Author
The New Deal is plainly an attempt to achieve a working socialism and avert a social collapse in America; it is extraordinarily parallel to the successive 'policies' and 'Plans' of the Russian experiment. Americans shirk the word 'socialism', but what else can one call it?
Quote examples
Mike Braun
American Politician
Career politicians in D.C. have shirked their responsibility to us for decades. At every turn, they've kicked the can down the road, pushing the burdens of our problems and our debts onto our children and grandchildren.
Quote examples
Gordon Brown
British Politician
We are being tough in saying it is a duty on the unemployed in future not only to be available for work - and not to shirk work - but also to get the skills for work. That is a new duty we are introducing.
Quote examples
Paul Ryan
American Politician
While President Obama shirks his responsibility to advance solutions to our fiscal challenges, he can no longer hide from the merciless math of the balance sheet. Conservatives have made certain of that.
Quote examples
Nellie Bly
American Journalist
I took upon myself to enact the part of a poor, unfortunate crazy girl, and felt it my duty not to shirk any of the disagreeable results that should follow.
Quote examples
Richard Flanagan
Australian Novelist
I had long wanted to write a love story, and I had long - wisely, I felt - shirked the challenge because I felt it the hardest story of all to write.
Quote examples
Francois Hollande
French Statesman
Everyone must understand that you can't demand solidarity when there's a problem and shirk your duties when there are solutions.
Quote examples
Frank de Boer
Dutch Manager
You should not shirk from tough tackles during a training session, but after that you shake hands.
Quote examples
Dalai Lama
Tibetan Leader
My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility.
Quote examples
Moshe Vardi
Israeli Mathematician
We cannot shirk responsibility from concerns for the welfare of the next generation.
Quote examples
H. G. Wells
English Author
The New Deal is plainly an attempt to achieve a working socialism and avert a social collapse in America; it is extraordinarily parallel to the successive 'policies' and 'Plans' of the Russian experiment. Americans shirk the word 'socialism', but what else can one call it?
Quote examples
Mike Braun
American Politician
Career politicians in D.C. have shirked their responsibility to us for decades. At every turn, they've kicked the can down the road, pushing the burdens of our problems and our debts onto our children and grandchildren.
Quote examples
Gordon Brown
British Politician
We are being tough in saying it is a duty on the unemployed in future not only to be available for work - and not to shirk work - but also to get the skills for work. That is a new duty we are introducing.
Quote examples
Paul Ryan
American Politician
While President Obama shirks his responsibility to advance solutions to our fiscal challenges, he can no longer hide from the merciless math of the balance sheet. Conservatives have made certain of that.
Quote examples
Nellie Bly
American Journalist
I took upon myself to enact the part of a poor, unfortunate crazy girl, and felt it my duty not to shirk any of the disagreeable results that should follow.
Quote examples
Richard Flanagan
Australian Novelist
I had long wanted to write a love story, and I had long - wisely, I felt - shirked the challenge because I felt it the hardest story of all to write.
Quote examples
Francois Hollande
French Statesman
Everyone must understand that you can't demand solidarity when there's a problem and shirk your duties when there are solutions.
Quote examples
Frank de Boer
Dutch Manager
You should not shirk from tough tackles during a training session, but after that you shake hands.
Quote examples
Dalai Lama
Tibetan Leader
My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility.
Quote examples
Moshe Vardi
Israeli Mathematician
We cannot shirk responsibility from concerns for the welfare of the next generation.
Example 1 of 10
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