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
Related Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shake down
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Cipriani followed this script in his effort to shake down Jeff Shell.
—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Inspired by mishaps on an Alaskan adventure of their own, and the sliding top-over-bottom action of hat and match boxes, the Halls started building their prototype in 1953 and took it for an official Alaskan shakedown in 1957.
—
New Atlas,
21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Verb
The city hired a second firm to represent Watts, as the city was legally responsible for covering legal judgments against him despite his federal prison sentence for shaking down a drug courier.
—
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Cipriani followed this script in his effort to shake down Jeff Shell.
—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
Previous versions of the script depicted the case against the singer as being a shakedown, according to The New York Times.
—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Inspired by mishaps on an Alaskan adventure of their own, and the sliding top-over-bottom action of hat and match boxes, the Halls started building their prototype in 1953 and took it for an official Alaskan shakedown in 1957.
—
New Atlas,
21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake down
Verb
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The fans were cheated Sunday out of a chance to see an interesting pitching matchup between Shota Imanaga and Dylan Cease, the former Cubs farmhand and former White Sox pitcher.
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For example, a spouse who catches their partner cheating and kills someone in the heat of emotion.
Noun
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The kitchen is sleek and fully equipped for feeding a crowd, and the sleeping arrangements strike that rare balance between elevated and practical—proper suites for the adults and a bunk room that kids will immediately claim.
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This meant that men and women couldn't share beds, and the girls would have to bunk with one another.
Noun
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While some attribute layoffs to post-pandemic corrections, not solely AI, the true test is whether these leaner structures can effectively foster internal leadership development.
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The three-judge panel found that Connecticut's ban is consistent with the country's historical tradition of firearms regulation, applying a new test for reviewing the constitutionality of gun laws that the Supreme Court set out in 2022.
Noun
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The Barracuda class is designed to perform a wide range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, land-attack operations, and special forces support.
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Its Russian captain allegedly acted on Russian intelligence and a Russian corvette ran reconnaissance.
Verb
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Ecuador beat Germany 2-1 in its final group-play match to squeeze into the knockout stages for just the second time, advancing as a third-place team.
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There was Paris squeezed between meetings on a fleeting work trip.
Noun
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The parking lot of a pharmacy turned into a makeshift shelter with tarps, hammocks and tents.
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People turned the parking lot of a pharmacy into makeshift shelter by setting up tarps, hammocks and tents.
Noun
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According to a June 16 release posted by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, there are no flights scheduled for several hours in the early afternoon of July 3 to allow for aerial rehearsals, and no flights after noon on July 4 for celebratory aerial performances and fireworks.
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Hours before the show, Richie shared behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram from rehearsal and the sound check.
Noun
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World leaders are expressing their condolences today and pledging support through aid, search and rescue assistance and military equipment.
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The contingent included doctors, nurses and search-and-rescue teams.
Cite this Entry
“Shake down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20down. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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