SHIRKER Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

shirker

noun

Definition of shirker

as in lingerer

one who deliberately avoids work or duty even before we weighed anchor, the captain forcefully served notice that there would be no shirkers on his ship

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirker

Noun

The lingerers brought their dirty dishes to the bus tub, wiped their mouths one last time with a napkin, and waved to Cleo, their faces saying, Nice job!

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
Nakamura designs for lingerers.

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Apr. 2026

Definition of lingerer

Noun

Beavis & Butthead Mike Judge created these two mush-mouthed slackers, who decades on remain among the cartoon characters most synonymous with ’90s malaise and slacker culture.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026
From there, Blair conceived Mark Southard and Davis Hench, two wildly different, aging slackers who are tasked with driving teenage scion Sheridan Kimberly to rehab on behalf of his disengaged billionaire parents.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of slacker

Noun

The South London artist channels Disney soundtrack tropes into claustrophobic strings and drones, while a handful of vocal tracks hint darkly at real-world family drama.

— Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
Sobyanin later reported 68 more drones targeting Moscow were downed during daylight on Tuesday morning.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of drone

Noun

Home runs are king in the postseason, but that’s where Caminero comes in, with Liam Hicks, Yandy Díaz and Jonathan Aranda also offering some slug.

— Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Trim back the dead foliage in fall to improve your garden’s appearance and prevent slug eggs from overwintering.

— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of slug

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

shirked

shirker

shirkers

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“Shirker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirker. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of shirker

noun

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