shrug

[ shruhg ]

verb (used with object)

, shrugged, shrug·ging.

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

verb (used without object)

, shrugged, shrug·ging.

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. 1. to disregard; minimize:

      to shrug off an insult.

   2. to rid oneself of:

      to shrug off the effects of a drug.

shrug

/ ʃrʌɡ /

verb

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

noun

1. the gesture so made
2. a woman's short jacket or close-fitting cardigan

Other Words From

• un·shrugging adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrug¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrug¹

C14: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Tuesday’s show was the best yet, with Knecht even doing the same shrugged shoulder celebration after his barrage of threes that Michael Jordan used in Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals.

From Los Angeles Times

Operating on the assumption that 4B amounts a "sex strike," it's easy for opinion writers to shrug it off as ineffectual and unlikely to gain momentum.

From Salon

Feeling understandably patronised, they shrugged off the suggestion.

From BBC

Even before the election, Zelensky shrugged off denigrating references from Trump, who at one point called him the “world’s greatest salesman” for his successes in garnering U.S. aid.

From Los Angeles Times

El Sereno resident Louis Ortiz, dropping off his ballot on Tuesday, shrugged off the audio scandal, saying De León’s remarks were taken out of context.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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