shirk

[shurk]

See more synonyms for shirk on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to evade (work, duty, responsibility, etc.).

verb (used without object)

to evade work, duty, etc.

noun

a shirker.

Origin of shirk

First recorded in 1625–35; obscurely akin to shark²

Related formsun·shirked, adjectiveun·shirk·ing, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for shirk on Thesaurus.com

1. shun, avoid, dodge.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for shirk

Contemporary Examples

And to shirk that part of our human responsibility is, well, a sin.
A Catholic Ex-Banker on Pope Francis’s Radical Views
Chris Lowney
December 15, 2013
Should this happen it would be doubly disastrous were we to shirk the challenge now.
Margaret Thatcher Sounded the Alarm on Climate Change
David Frum
April 8, 2013
They abuse drinks or drugs, abuse spouses and loved ones, shirk sleep and plummet into crippling depression.
War Photographer Trains Her Lens on Military Suicide at Home
Allison Yarrow
September 4, 2012
“Congress must not shirk its responsibilities,” the White House said in a statement.
'Do-Nothing' Congress a Target for Obama in 2012
Patricia Murphy
November 12, 2011

Historical Examples

We have duties to others and duties to ourselves; and we can shirk neither.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
You work till you are tired of it; then you go off and shirk, and call it studying.
The Dominant Strain
Anna Chapin Ray
And here the demagogue arose and bade her shirk no issue, even the red flag.
The Prisoner
Alice Brown
I do not court publicity, but I cannot shirk my duty because it entails that.
The Crevice
William John Burns and Isabel Ostrander
Sick of life—to tell you the truth; but what would have been the good to shirk it—in—in—that way?
Lord Jim
Joseph Conrad

British Dictionary definitions for shirk

shirk¹

verb

to avoid discharging (work, a duty, etc); evade

noun Also: shirker

a person who shirks

Word Origin

C17: probably from German Schurke rogue; see shark ²

shirk²

noun

Islam
1. the fundamental sin of regarding anything as equal to Allah
2. any belief that is considered to be in opposition to Allah and Islam

Word Origin

from Arabic: association

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for shirk

v.

1630s, "to practice fraud or trickery," also a noun (1630s, now obsolete) "a needy, disreputable parasite" [OED], perhaps from German schurke "scoundrel, rogue, knave, villain" (see shark (n.)). Sense of "evade one's work or duty" first recorded 1785, originally in slang. Related: Shirked; shirking.

shirk

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Synonyms

Examples from the Web for shirk

Contemporary Examples

And to shirk that part of our human responsibility is, well, a sin.

Should this happen it would be doubly disastrous were we to shirk the challenge now.

They abuse drinks or drugs, abuse spouses and loved ones, shirk sleep and plummet into crippling depression.

“Congress must not shirk its responsibilities,” the White House said in a statement.

Historical Examples

We have duties to others and duties to ourselves; and we can shirk neither.

You work till you are tired of it; then you go off and shirk, and call it studying.

And here the demagogue arose and bade her shirk no issue, even the red flag.

I do not court publicity, but I cannot shirk my duty because it entails that.

Sick of life—to tell you the truth; but what would have been the good to shirk it—in—in—that way?

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Word Origin

shirk2

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for shirk

v.

Origin of shirk

shirk¹

shirk²