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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1
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
Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 3 Sep. 2024
Robberies and shakedowns were his thing, usually in the company of neighborhood pals.
—Sarah Weinman, Rolling Stone, 1 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
The law enforcement actions — including a shakedown at the home of an 87-year-old retired teacher, Lidia Martinez, on Aug. 20 — have prompted the nation's largest Latino civil rights advocacy group and the state Senate Democratic Caucus to call for a federal investigation.
—Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 3 Sep. 2024
Robberies and shakedowns were his thing, usually in the company of neighborhood pals.
—Sarah Weinman, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shake down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake down
Verb
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There’s a scene where the duo is trying to get their rent money back from Alyssa’s conniving and cheating boyfriend, which perfectly encapsulates the blend of wit and physical comedy that makes the film so memorable.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
21 Jan. 2025
-
West Virginia was also willing to cheat off of Keshon Gilbert.—
CJ Moore,
The Athletic,
20 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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Jair Bolsonaro’s Stay-Out-of-Jail Card: The former Brazilian president, squeezed by criminal investigations, is looking to Trump, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to shift his nation’s politics — and maybe keep him a free man.—
Ruth Maclean,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
-
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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To run a test campaign on RCS, Listrak teamed with its client, Dooney & Bourke.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
WWD,
21 Jan. 2025
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The most recent national test scores reveal declining math scores, with nine-year-olds down 7 points from 2020 to 2022 and thirteen-year-olds down 9 points from 2020 to 2023.—
Sara Schapiro,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Donohue will contribute to the company’s North American strategy as a special adviser to the CEO and step in as managing partner of Elevate Talent, an arm of the business launched last year after Elevate acquired executive search firm SRI.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
21 Jan. 2025
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More than three months later, the district has taken few concrete steps toward beginning the search for a permanent superintendent.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Jan. 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 2 Feb. 2025.
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