shrug off

verb

shrugged off; shrugging off; shrugs off

transitive verb

1

: to shake off

shrugging off sleep

2

: to brush aside : minimize

shrugs off the problem

3

: to remove (a garment) by wriggling out

Synonyms

• blink (at)
• brush (aside or off)
• condone
• discount
• disregard
• excuse
• forgive
• gloss (over)
• gloze (over)
• ignore
• overlook
• overpass
• paper over
• pardon
• pass over
• remit
• whitewash
• wink (at)

Examples of shrug off in a Sentence

an administration that was willing to shrug off the problem

she shrugged off her coat and hung it up neatly

Recent Examples on the Web

Last week, before Branch joined those ranks, Riley shrugged off concerns about his receiver room. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024

But she’s shrugged off the pressure around Trump’s nominees. —Julia Manchester, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2024

Trump shrugged off Welker when asked about the committee's denial of destroying evidence and the unsubstantiated offer to Pelosi of troops, strongly suggesting that Welker was biased. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

Cruise lines have shrugged off their negative reputations from the pandemic era and are increasingly offering ways to stay onboard for longer. —Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

shrug off

verb

1

: to brush aside as not important

2

: to take off (a garment) by wriggling out