shrug

American  

[shruhg] / ʃrʌg /

verb (used with object)

shrugged, shrugging

1. to raise and contract (the shoulders), expressing indifference, disdain, etc.

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verb (used without object)

shrugged, shrugging

1. to raise and contract the shoulders.

noun

1. the movement of raising and contracting the shoulders.

2. a short sweater or jacket that ends above or at the waistline.

verb phrase

1. shrug off

   1. to disregard; minimize.

      to shrug off an insult.

   2. to rid oneself of.

      to shrug off the effects of a drug.

shrug British  

/ ʃrʌɡ /

verb

1. to draw up and drop (the shoulders) abruptly in a gesture expressing indifference, contempt, ignorance, etc

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noun

1. the gesture so made

2. a woman's short jacket or close-fitting cardigan

Other Word Forms

• unshrugging adjective

Etymology

Origin of shrug

1350–1400; (v.) Middle English schruggen to shudder, shrug < ?; (noun) late Middle English shrugge a tug, pull, derivative of the v.

Example Sentences

The Proteas in June 2025 beat Australia in the World Test Championship final to win their first major International Cricket Council trophy and shrug off their "chokers" tag.

From Barron's

Stocks initially shrugged off the selloff, with the S&P 500 approaching a new high.

From Barron's

Stocks initially shrugged off the selloff, with the S&P 500 approaching a new high.

From Barron's

The man shrugged and dropped the edge of the rug back down on the floor.

From Literature

Or they will shrug and say, “Time is on my side.”

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• bounce
• bump
• fling
• flop
• hurtle
• jolt
• lug
• snatch
• thrust
• tug
• twitch
• wiggle
• wrench
• wriggle
• wring
• yank