shirking

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'shirking' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe any situation in which someone neglects their duties or avoids their responsibilities. For example: The employee was reprimanded for shirking his duties, which led to a loss of income for the company.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Allen said that the Italian navy's "desperately needed" search-and-rescue operation in the Mediterranean had saved thousands of lives and other European countries should be stepping up to share that responsibility with them, not shirking it.

The Guardian

Libin is bullish on the potential of these devices, without shirking some of their current challenges.

The Guardian - Tech

Republicans accused the president of shirking responsibility for the American deaths in Libya last month by letting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton take the blame.

The Guardian

Instead the GOP accuses President Obama of shirking responsibility.

The Guardian

Though it has pandered to some portions of the electorate, especially pensioners, Mr Cameron's government can hardly be accused of shirking its fiscal responsibilities; it campaigned on a promise to take an additional £12 billion ($19 billion) from the welfare budget.For Labour, the result was calamitous.

The Economist

Suicide is sometimes even met with approval as facing one's fate, not shirking it.

The Economist

Germany seemed to have reverted to its post-war habit of shirking global responsibilities.

The Economist

Congress has been attacked for shirking its responsibility for what some of its leaders call "Clinton's war", while at the same time refusing to allow the president the leeway to prosecute "his" war freely.

The Economist

But President Viktor Yanukovych unexpectedly rejected the deal and turned instead to Russia, which had threatened to squeeze out imports and also offered a $15 billion loan and cheaper gas all in hopes of luring Ukraine into its own Eurasian customs union.In this section No more shirking Mr Hollande goes to Washington Untimely A new Partido Té?

The Economist

And far from shirking jury duty, fancy people in fancy jobs were found to be more conscientious than others, if anything.

The Economist

He is threatening to sue if CBSA does not remove his name and photo from its web site.Most importantly, if the government is right that vicious war criminals are on the loose in Canadian territory, it is shirking its obligation to bring them to justice.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shirking" when you want to emphasize the act of deliberately avoiding responsibilities, especially when there's an expectation of fulfilling those duties.

Common error

While both imply evading something, "shirking" specifically refers to avoiding a responsibility or duty, whereas "avoiding" can refer to anything, including unpleasant situations or people. Be precise about the context.

Linguistic Context

The term "shirking" primarily functions as a verb, often in its present participle form, describing the act of avoiding a duty or responsibility. This aligns with Ludwig's examples, showcasing its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Unknown

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shirking" is a versatile verb used to describe the act of avoiding responsibilities or duties. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts, primarily in news, media, and encyclopedic content. While grammatically sound, it's essential to distinguish "shirking" from simply "avoiding", as it specifically relates to neglecting obligations. Consider alternatives such as "evading responsibility" or "dereliction of duty" for nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evading responsibility

Focuses on avoiding accountability.

dodging duties

Emphasizes the act of avoiding specific tasks.

neglecting obligations

Highlights the failure to fulfill commitments.

skiving off

Informal term for avoiding work or duties.

circumventing tasks

Implies finding a way around duties without directly addressing them.

bypassing responsibilities

Suggests going around duties rather than facing them.

failing to perform

General term indicating a lack of task completion.

abandoning commitments

Indicates a complete desertion of agreed-upon responsibilities.

dereliction of duty

Formal term emphasizing the serious nature of neglecting one's responsibilities.

avoiding accountability

Highlights the evasion of being held responsible for actions or inactions.

FAQs

How can I use "shirking" in a sentence?

You can use "shirking" to describe someone who is avoiding their responsibilities. For example: "The employee was reprimanded for "shirking" their duties."

What is a formal alternative to "shirking"?

A more formal alternative to "shirking" is "dereliction of duty", which implies a serious failure to fulfill one's responsibilities.

What's the difference between "shirking" and "avoiding"?

"Shirking" specifically implies evading a responsibility or duty, while "avoiding" is a more general term for keeping away from something unpleasant or undesirable.

What can I say instead of "shirking"?

You can use alternatives like "evading responsibility", "dodging duties", or "neglecting obligations" depending on the context.