as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
the rumor is that he started his career shaking people down as an enforcer for the mob
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in bunk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shake down
Sarene Leeds, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024
Edward Burke, who went to prison last month for shaking down business owners and developers.
—Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 6 Oct. 2024
Luke Smith, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
Thursday's cartoons - inauguration shakedown, shaky legacy, and more
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By The Week US
published 19 December 2024
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber.
—The Week Us, theweek, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shake down 
Verb
Speaking of Harper, he’s been in Hong Kong this whole time trying to shake down his ex-wife, Marion.
—Sarene Leeds, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024
Edward Burke, who went to prison last month for shaking down business owners and developers.
—Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 6 Oct. 2024
Noun
Teams will often use one of these days to complete a shakedown with their new car before the start of pre-season testing.
—Luke Smith, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
Thursday's cartoons - inauguration shakedown, shaky legacy, and more
Newsletter sign up
By The Week US
published 19 December 2024
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber.
—The Week Us, theweek, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shake down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake down
Verb
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In February 1925, Ford cheated the electric chair by twisting up a bed sheet, suspending it from a bar over the door in the cell, and hanging himself.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2025
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Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Elon Musk has seemingly admitted to cheating — in the virtual world.—
Raul A. Reyes,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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He’s had pepper spray pumped into his cell and lived in solitary confinement for days at a time during an endless shuffle between hospital beds and jail bunks.—
Kallie Cox,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Jan. 2025
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Accommodations range from bunks in communal rooms to private yurts overlooking the Pacific.—
Megan Michelson,
Outside Online,
13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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After many years of medication trial and error, my life started getting on track.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
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Developing this skillset came with a lot of trial and error, and resulted in a few broken luggage zippers along the way.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
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And, even if all the accounts were 2FA-protected, there’s still that hacker reconnaissance issue to consider.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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Downing was piloting an F-4C Phantom II aircraft during a nighttime armed reconnaissance mission over the then-Democratic Republic of Vietnam on Sept. 5, 1967, when his aircraft vanished, the agency said.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Turn the pot on its side and loosen the root ball from the pot's walls by squeezing or tapping the side of the pot a little.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Jan. 2025
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Use a fire extinguisher by pulling the pin, aiming at the base of the fire, squeezing the lever slowly and sweeping the nozzle side to side For a grease fire, try to cover the flames with a lid or pan to snuff them out.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom Amenities: Outdoor shower, washer/dryer, record player, exercise equipment, pack n’ play, kitchen, backyard with hammock.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
7 Dec. 2024
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The perfect itinerary might include a three-hour surf session, a two-hour breakfast, and a half-day swing in the hammock before sampling Costa Rican elixirs like goldenberry and cas on the rooftop bar.—
Noah Lederman,
Robb Report,
29 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In our tests, however, the RW402B came out slightly lower on the quality scale.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
1 Feb. 2025
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SpaceX also criticized delays in licensing Starship test flights last year.—
Stephen Clark,
Ars Technica,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
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General online searches can help travelers find destinations and attractions close enough to visit for the day, said AAA travel advisor Laura Hersey.—
Nathan Diller,
USA TODAY,
2 Feb. 2025
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By Rick Stroud Tampa Bay Times TAMPA — The Bucs’ search for a new offensive coordinator ended just a few doors down from Todd Bowles’ office.—
Rick Stroud,
Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near shake down
Cite this Entry
“Shake down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20down. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
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