1
as in moves
to change the place or position of
he shifted the vase closer to the wall so that it wouldn't get knocked over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in twitches
to change one's position
she shifted uncomfortably in her seat throughout the interview
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3
as in changes
to pass from one form, state, or level to another
she watched the aurora in fascination as its colors shifted from green to blue
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in swaps
to give up (something) and take something else in return
my brother and I shifted seats just before takeoff so that he could sit by the window
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5
as in copes
to meet one's day-to-day needs
left the others to shift for themselves
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in means
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
desperate shifts to stave off financial disaster
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2
as in movements
the act or an instance of changing position
made a small shift to the left to make more room on the bench
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shifts
Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026
By the weekend, the Libra Moon shifts attention to your money and values sector, encouraging balance around spending, earning, and self-worth.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 4 Jan. 2026
The film also shifts periodically to another non-human perspective – that of the gigantic observatories themselves as the donkeys clop, clop, clop their way around them.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2025
Every so often, a piece of media comes along that quietly shifts the culture.
—Olivia Allen, Vogue, 18 Nov. 2025
However, an absent or restricted Jackson instantly shifts the advantage to Cleveland’s defense and evens the betting line.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Because external conditions constantly change during flight, the wing’s resonance frequency also shifts.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
The camera then shifts to show the coin is not alone on the train rail.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
The transmission generally shifts smoothly, but there’s such a racket from that transaxle and limited-slip differential, not to mention a huge amount of road noise coming up through the suspension, that any conversation will sound more like a shouting match out of necessity.
—Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
The radical shifts in France — regicide, the Committee of Public Safety’s terror, and expansionist campaigns — dissolved the moral and practical basis for the alliance.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
After a break for the holidays, 2026 is in full swing, and so are announcements about executive shifts.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
Thanks to several significant planetary shifts, fire signs Aries and Leo, and air signs Gemini and Aquarius will command the spotlight as trendsetters in 2026.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
As the characters face danger and the emotional anguish mounts, the score shifts into an ambient vibe.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026
As Hollywood shifts toward producing more big-budget blockbuster features — while medium-to-low budget films are more often sent to streaming — PLF screens will become increasingly important.
—Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
Jon Meyer, Utah’s assistant state climatologist, said the rain events seen so far this winter and lack of mountain snows in the early to mid-winter are part of larger-scale climate shifts affecting the state — changes that could affect long-term economic prospects.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
If that dynamic shifts, then just find another group of friends.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
After the midterm elections are over, the focus gradually shifts to the next presidential election, and the incumbent president increasingly limps like a lame duck.
—Noun
Not because the moms themselves are toxic people, but because the dynamic shifts into an ugly place with mean-girl behavior.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for shifts
Verb
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One slightly wrong rate in a budget, procurement forecast, or loan estimate easily moves millions of dollars in the wrong direction.—
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The Honda moves forward, turning to the right.—
Verb
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Some devices, for example, track eye movements or other small muscle twitches to let users select words from a screen.—
Verb
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StubHub is on dynamic pricing that changes by supply and demand.—
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With scoring guards like Chris Paul II, Christian Rogers and Ean Britt, Sanders changes things with his ability to protect the rim — and score easy baskets around the rim — from guard penetration.—
Verb
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In a new trailer for The Death of Robin Hood released on January 6, Jackman swaps out his clean-shaven ethos for a rugged silver fox transformation, complete with a long grizzled beard and wiry gray hair.—
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Follow along as Santa swaps his sleigh for a Carnival cruise ship!—
Verb
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How a canine copes with the holidays will depend on their personality, but owners should consider using a crate, blocking access to certain rooms, or keeping them on a leash.—
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The 10-2 vote in favor of the easier policy came as the Fed copes with an absence of timely economic data due to the four-week-old government shutdown.—
Noun
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Running out of battery mid-flight means missing entertainment and the chance to use apps that help manage nervousness or track turbulence.—
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Manufacturers would also have to provide a means for first responders to access the car from outside when electric power is lost.—
Noun
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Even more dangerous are sudden movements in such instances.—
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Resisting Europe’s current trajectories through supporting patriotic European movements aims to restore civilizational confidence and true alliance vitality.—
Verb
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There are several cases where teams’ records move from one city to the next when a franchise relocates.—
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Her new drama stars Léa Seydoux as a renowned pianist who relocates with her family to the countryside and then uncovers a life-shattering truth that forces her to confront the complexities of love and trust.—
Cite this Entry
“Shifts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shifts. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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