H. G. Wells

The New Deal is plainly an attempt to achieve a working socialism and avert a social collapse in America; it is extraordinarily parallel to the successive 'policies' and 'Plans' of the Russian experiment. Americans shirk the word 'socialism', but what else can one call it?

English Author

Mike Braun

Career politicians in D.C. have shirked their responsibility to us for decades. At every turn, they've kicked the can down the road, pushing the burdens of our problems and our debts onto our children and grandchildren.

American Politician

Gordon Brown

We are being tough in saying it is a duty on the unemployed in future not only to be available for work - and not to shirk work - but also to get the skills for work. That is a new duty we are introducing.

British Politician

Paul Ryan

While President Obama shirks his responsibility to advance solutions to our fiscal challenges, he can no longer hide from the merciless math of the balance sheet. Conservatives have made certain of that.

Nellie Bly

I took upon myself to enact the part of a poor, unfortunate crazy girl, and felt it my duty not to shirk any of the disagreeable results that should follow.

American Journalist

Richard Flanagan

I had long wanted to write a love story, and I had long - wisely, I felt - shirked the challenge because I felt it the hardest story of all to write.

Australian Novelist

Francois Hollande

Everyone must understand that you can't demand solidarity when there's a problem and shirk your duties when there are solutions.

French Statesman

Frank de Boer

You should not shirk from tough tackles during a training session, but after that you shake hands.

Dutch Manager

Dalai Lama

My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility.

Tibetan Leader

Moshe Vardi

We cannot shirk responsibility from concerns for the welfare of the next generation.

Israeli Mathematician

Use 'shirk' for indirect ways of avoiding duties, not just simple refusal.

Subtle avoidance

'Shirk' often implies a judgment that someone is neglecting their obligations.

Negative connotation

'Shirk' is frequently used with 'duty,' 'responsibility,' and 'work.'

Common collocations

'Shirk' captures avoiding engagement or participation in something.

Avoiding participation

'Shirk' is used when someone avoids confrontations or difficult situations.

Avoidance of conflict

Use 'shirk from' to describe a person avoiding challenges or taking the easy way out.

Facing challenges

 I'm not saying we're the be-all and end-all, but I don't think people should shirk their responsibilities of at least making a small difference going forward. If enough companies did that, if enough governments did that, it would make a real difference in the world.

What COVID-19 means for...

 to ensure her safe passage into the spirit world. The burial was complete, but the taboo of death weighed heavily on the scholar. How could he have been so foolish, to shirk his most important rule and corrupt his divine journey?

The Japanese folktale of...

 young man our giba dislikes leaving his lovers bed to return to his mom's house but giba knows he can't shirk his responsibilities to his family outsiders may find it exotic but most well family life has little to do with romance