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
William Pesek, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
The limited series centers on two Philadelphia con men, Ray (Brian Tyree Henry) and Manny (Wagner Moura), who pose as DEA agents in an effort to shake down small-time drug dealers.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
Edward Burke, who spent a record 54 years on the City Council and now is in prison for his own shakedown scheme.
—Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Verb
Now, Japan is finding out via news stories the ways in which Trump might rock Japan’s 2025 — from tariffs on autos to the weak yen to shaking down Tokyo for multibillion-dollar payments to maintain U.S. troop levels.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
The limited series centers on two Philadelphia con men, Ray (Brian Tyree Henry) and Manny (Wagner Moura), who pose as DEA agents in an effort to shake down small-time drug dealers.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
In October and November, tourist season’s still doing shakedown laps.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
Edward Burke, who spent a record 54 years on the City Council and now is in prison for his own shakedown scheme.
—Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake down
Verb
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Disgruntled attendees, many of them authors, said they felt cheated by event organizers, who failed to deliver on most, if not all fronts.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
7 May 2025
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In their stories about others, 92% chronicled how misfortune befell cheating partners, indebted friends, bullies and lousy coworkers.—
Kameryn Griesser,
CNN Money,
1 May 2025
Noun
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Where to stay Graduate by Hilton, just steps from Virginia Commonwealth University, has a rooftop pool and family suites with a king-size bed in one room and bunks in the other.—
Ashlea Halpern,
AFAR Media,
29 Apr. 2025
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But the sun-drenched former tourist hub is nonetheless feeling the effects, as tens of thousands of refugees fleeing the gangs’ terror bunk with family and friends in this sleepy remote corner of Haiti.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Learning from someone else’s missteps can save you years of trial and error, providing reassurance and peace of mind.—
Hao Lam,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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Ohtani will have a little more than two months for such trial and error, and even less if the National League West remains competitive.—
Dylan Hernández,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile the escapees are being led to safety by a reconnaissance drone.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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But in that time, the Houthis have successfully been able to shoot down a significant number of MQ-9 Reaper drones that provide real-time surveillance and reconnaissance information that is key in finding the targets for those airstrikes.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Custom Container Living View 8 Images Custom Container Living has transformed a shipping container into an ultra-compact tiny house that squeezes a home for two into just 160 sq ft (14.8 sq m).—
Adam Williams
May 08,
New Atlas,
8 May 2025
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Officials hope that increased lending and spending will help ease deflationary pressures that have dragged down prices, squeezed company profits, and weakened consumer confidence.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
Noun
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Many playgrounds now include spider swings or hammock attachments as well.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
28 Apr. 2025
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Featuring private guest balconies, hammocks, and lush foliage throughout the five-acre property, Parrot Key offers a restful escape from the Key West reverie.—
Cynthia J Drake,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In late 2024, OpenAI’s o3 model indicated significantly stronger performance than any previous model on a number of the field’s most challenging tests of programming, abstract reasoning, and scientific reasoning.—
Yoshua Bengio,
Time,
9 May 2025
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However, department officials declined to provide the copies of the soil test results, saying data had yet to be finalized.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2025
Noun
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Cue a frantic search of the local hospitals that only ended several hours later at Pinderfields in Wakefield.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
9 May 2025
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Dominating search Today, Google is much more than a search engine.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shake down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20down. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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