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 shakedown
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 17 July 2025
O’Brien’s predecessor George Cashman pled guilty to extortion, following a series of troubling incidents that included a grand jury investigation into shakedowns of producers on reportedly such films as The Cider House Rules and The Perfect Storm.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2025
Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 10 July 2025
The site is a stone’s throw from the former Longcross test track—now a major movie studio—where the McLaren F1 was shaken down.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shakedown
Verb
Unfortunately, their shakedown cruise was a little too shaky.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 17 July 2025
O’Brien’s predecessor George Cashman pled guilty to extortion, following a series of troubling incidents that included a grand jury investigation into shakedowns of producers on reportedly such films as The Cider House Rules and The Perfect Storm.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2025
Noun
And so, Frank and Dennis took to shaking down the populace after Frank sprang for two police uniforms, Dee beat the hell out of the unhoused masturbator, and Charlie seized upon his undercover Serpico cop role to attempt a series of stings on his fellow corrupt fake cops.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 10 July 2025
The site is a stone’s throw from the former Longcross test track—now a major movie studio—where the McLaren F1 was shaken down.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shakedown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shakedown
Verb
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In June 2009, Kate filed for divorce following cheating allegations surrounding Jon.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Park Min-young played a timid wife seeking revenge on her cheating man in Marry My Husband.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Deputies then transported him back to his cell, where he was placed on the lower bunk.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
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Deep Submergence Lab, to come out of the ship’s bunk and see for himself.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Through trial and error, the unique light generated by the original lanterns was eventually recreated.—
Isabelle Kliger,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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The world of toners can be tricky to navigate, but this offering eliminates the need for trial and error.—
Tatayana Yomary,
Essence,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In that setting, Kelluu will demonstrate how its endurance and GNSS-denied navigation capabilities could support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in contested zones.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Sep. 2025
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Both Moscow and Kyiv utilize drones in various ways, from conducting reconnaissance missions to coordinating and executing strikes, or even as interceptors to take down the other's unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Industry leaders such as Denmark’s Orsted, Siemens Gamesa, and General Electric have been squeezed by rising component prices, high interest rates, and wavering government support.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Sep. 2025
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At the same time, corporations and government agencies have enforced return-to-office mandates that disproportionately squeeze caregivers.—
Richard Fowler,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Later phases will include a disc golf course, a dog park, fishing piers, kayak and paddleboard access, a bird watching area, a hammock pole area and a lake deck, according to Rawn.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Sep. 2025
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With a scarf, ingenuity, and gumption, Breinberg had scored higher than the people who’d used fire, dry needling, hammocks, and cups.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Athletic Club defender Yeray Alvarez has been handed a 10-month suspension by UEFA following a positive doping test.—
Colin Millar,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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The money would provide for beginning mechanical removal of the algae mass in the most problematic areas and setting up test areas for the effectiveness of algicides, Miller said.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In the search for good ideas, Miami-Dade will award $100,000 each to three startups that are developing technology to divert waste from landfills and improve public sustainability engagement.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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When enabled, the feature allows Google to collect your search and activity history and provide personalized search results and ads.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shakedown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shakedown. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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