ENGLISH
REFERENCE

shrugged

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈʃɹəɡd// UK //ʃɹˈʌɡd// shrugged

v. raised your shoulders to show that you do not know something or do not care about it.

v. past tense of 'shrug'; refers to the action of raising and lowering the shoulders to express doubt, indifference, or ignorance.


SIMPLE

He shrugged when I asked him for the time.

CONTEXTUAL

When the teacher asked who had broken the window, the students simply shrugged and looked away.

COMPLEX

The diplomat merely shrugged at the accusations, maintaining a mask of indifference that frustrated the gathered journalists seeking a more substantial response.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is often used intransitively, but can take a direct object in the phrase 'shrugged his/her shoulders'.

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