as in to shock
to cause an unpleasant surprise for
the news that we had failed the auto inspection shook us up
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shake up
Madeline Fitzgerald, Quartz, 17 Jan. 2025
Some represented smaller firms that want to shake up the way contracting is done and gain a slice of the Pentagon's spending — for emerging tech, AI research and more.
—Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 16 Jan. 2025
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
But that’s not the only forthcoming shake-up at the media company.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for shake up 
Verb
Experts note, however, that recent political changes could still shake up the world order.
—Madeline Fitzgerald, Quartz, 17 Jan. 2025
Some represented smaller firms that want to shake up the way contracting is done and gain a slice of the Pentagon's spending — for emerging tech, AI research and more.
—Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
Manning left the Trojans staff last January amid a shake-up on the defensive staff.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
But that’s not the only forthcoming shake-up at the media company.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for shake up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake up
Verb
-
The revelation shocks everyone on the trip, leading Praveena to pack her bags and Juliana to break up with Yuri.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
18 Jan. 2025
-
Removing too much of the plant can shock it and stunt its growth.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The post-Hollywood strikes shakeout seems to be stabilizing.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
2 Jan. 2025
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Between the lines: The study comes as major pharmacy chains including Walgreens and CVS continue to go through painful shakeouts.—
Tina Reed,
Axios,
9 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Was this accelerating viral migration part of the thinking behind the shortness in TikTok’s shutdown, notwithstanding that the platform didn’t really need to go dark and could have simply awaited the change in administration?—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
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Facing a shutdown, millions of the app’s users expressed disbelief, sadness, anger and defiance, with many posting farewell messages and others mock funerals; while critics have argued that this is a blow to free speech.—
Stacy Perman,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Dismay or appall you, sure, but never surprise you.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2024
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That kind of appalls me to think that people need not expect that of themselves.—
David Marchese Photograph by Mamadi Doumbouya,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2024
Noun
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In total, the report recorded 944 bank closings between January and September 30.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
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The bottom line: Hard Rock's closing marks the end of an era in River North.—
Carrie Shepherd,
Axios,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Director Mohammad Rasoulof tracks social and moral collapse with the kind of unnerving calm and visual precision that made the Iranian New Wave so striking when Abbas Kiarostami’s Through the Olive Trees and Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s A Moment of Innocence first stunned the film world in the 1990s.—
Armond White,
National Review,
22 Jan. 2025
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Legal Challenges Image Legal scholars and immigration advocates said on Tuesday that they were stunned by the breadth of the order.—
Michael D. Shear,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near shake up
Cite this Entry
“Shake up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20up. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
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