shirk
/ʃɜːk/
Group 31Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To avoid or neglect a duty or responsibility GRE
Example in Context
The report accused the oversight board of shirking its responsibilities, noting that it had failed to conduct a single audit in the previous fiscal year.
Synonyms
avoiddodgeneglect
Etymology
Originally meant to evade duty, reflecting a tendency to dodge responsibilities.
- shirk (Middle English) — to evade or avoid
Memory Aid
🙈Sounds like “shirk”
Imagine a monkey SHIRKING its cleaning duty by covering its eyes and saying, 'I can't see it, so it’s not my mess!'
Visual Association
🚫A lazy cat lounging on a couch while a pile of dirty dishes grows taller beside it.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “shirk” mean on the GRE?
shirk (verb) means “To avoid or neglect a duty or responsibility”. The report accused the oversight board of shirking its responsibilities, noting that it had failed to conduct a single audit in the previous fiscal year.
How to remember “shirk” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “shirk” sounds like “shirk”. Imagine a monkey SHIRKING its cleaning duty by covering its eyes and saying, 'I can't see it, so it’s not my mess!'
What are synonyms for “shirk”?
Common synonyms: avoid, dodge, neglect.