The term 'shakes off' can be defined as to lose, evade, elude, shed, or rid oneself of something. This phrase is often used to describe a person's attempt to rid themselves of an unwanted situation or feeling. For example, someone might say that they are trying to 'shake off' their depression or anxiety. In the context of a crossword puzzle, the solutions for 'shakes off' could be 'loses, ' 'evades, ' 'eludes, ' 'sheds, ' and 'rids.' Each of these words implies a different action, but all of them suggest that the person is attempting to rid themselves of something.