Shirk: meaning, definitions and examples

This word is used when someone deliberately avoids responsibility or duty. It often carries a negative connotation.

• He was always trying to shirk his responsibilities at work.
• She tried to shirk her household chores.

This term is used when someone takes action to stay away from something, often an unpleasant situation or consequence. It can be neutral or slightly negative depending on the context.

• He tried to avoid making eye contact with his boss.
• She avoids eating junk food to stay healthy.

This term is used when someone fails to care for something or someone properly, often through carelessness or omission. It carries a strong negative connotation.

• She was criticized for neglecting her duties as a parent.
• The garden was neglected and overgrown with weeds.

This word is often used when someone skillfully escapes from something, like a responsibility or a question. It has a slightly negative connotation.

• They tried to evade taxes by hiding their earnings.
• He evaded the question by changing the subject.

Used mainly in a religious context, particularly in Islam, to describe the sin of idolatry or polytheism, specifically associating other deities with Allah.

• In Islam, shirk is considered an unforgivable sin if one dies without repenting.
• The teachings warn against shirk, emphasizing the importance of monotheism.

Describes the worship of idols or physical objects as gods, often considered a grave sin in monotheistic religions.

• The prophet criticized the people's idolatry, urging them to worship the one true God.
• Many ancient cultures practiced idolatry, crafting figures to represent their gods.

Used to describe belief in or worship of multiple gods, typical in ancient religions and some modern religions. The term itself does not carry a negative connotation but may be viewed negatively in monotheistic contexts.

• Ancient Greek religion was based on polytheism, worshipping gods like Zeus and Athena.
• The shift from polytheism to monotheism marked a significant change in religious practices.

General term often used in various contexts to describe the act of connecting or linking things together, but in religious terms, it can mean associating other deities with God.

• His association with dubious characters harmed his reputation.
• In the context of monotheistic religions, association with other gods is frowned upon.