shirk

[ shurk ]

verb (used with object)

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

   Synonyms: dodge, avoid, shun

verb (used without object)

1. to evade work, duty, etc.

noun

1. a shirker.

shirk

¹

/ ʃɜːk /

verb

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

noun

1. a person who shirks

shirk

²

/ ʃɪːk /

noun

1. 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

Other Words From

• un·shirked adjective
• un·shirking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shirk¹

First recorded in 1625–35; obscurely akin to shark ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of shirk¹

C17: probably from German Schurke rogue; see shark ²

Origin of shirk²

from Arabic: association

Example Sentences

Shirk said this contributed to China taking a more active role internationally, which hasn’t always been well-received.

From FiveThirtyEight

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

From The Daily Beast

Employers can't shirk the fines as easily as individual purchasers can.

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

Tom held to his strange belief to 'Let it all come,' he would not try to prevent; he would neither shirk nor dodge.

From Project Gutenberg

You'll work your passage back to fitness quicker than an arm ever did before, you pale-faced shirk!

From Project Gutenberg

He patted Dorothy on the shoulder and would not permit her to shirk his praise.

From Project Gutenberg

The situation was a critical one, but Steve's was not a nature to shirk responsibilities or shun sacrifices.

From Project Gutenberg

Evelyn was fairly good at school; it was not, she considered, worth her while any longer to 322 shirk her lessons.

From Project Gutenberg