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
Relevance
1
as in bunk
Related Words
2
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shake down
David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
But in years past, many cases reviewed by CNN involved scam artists who sought to shake down immigrants for cash under threat of deportation.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Just as Artemis 1 was designed as an uncrewed shakedown of Orion during an extended spaceflight, Artemis 2 is a test flight to confirm that the spacecraft can sustain a crew in deep space.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Verb
Julian dispatches Ares and his deputy, Athena (an imperious Jodie Turner-Smith), to the physical world, ordering them to shake down Eve for information about Flynn’s code.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
But in years past, many cases reviewed by CNN involved scam artists who sought to shake down immigrants for cash under threat of deportation.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
The Mexican Mafia, Aryan Brotherhood and other gangs have long trafficked drugs, alcohol and, in more recent years, phones, which allow inmates to carry out shakedowns, gambling rackets and killings on the streets of L.A. County.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Just as Artemis 1 was designed as an uncrewed shakedown of Orion during an extended spaceflight, Artemis 2 is a test flight to confirm that the spacecraft can sustain a crew in deep space.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake down
Verb
-
Educational institutions signed contracts with AI detection companies such as GPTZero, ZeroGPT and Turnitin to deter students from cheating and adopted AI policies.—
Liz Shulman,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, our friends to the North seem to be in need of a timeout after cheating allegations.—
John Cherwa,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Elsewhere, the children’s bunkroom pairs two built-in bunks with two captain’s beds tucked in their own alcoves.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Even as water started seeping into the cabins scattered along the riverbank, Edward Eastland insisted the campers stay put and climb to the top bunks, the lawsuit says.—
Hayley Walker,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
With initial tests scheduled by the end of 2026, the partnership aims to achieve operational functionality in the first two years, followed by further development and expansion.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Nissen and his fellow researchers’ test subjects took around 45 minute naps on average.—
Hunter Boyce,
AJC.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The broader package includes Boeing P8I Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft for its navy, anti-tank mines for its ground forces, and upgrades to its Soviet-era T-72 tanks and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
During the Cold War, satellite reconnaissance was a powerful tool, albeit limited.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But, squeezed by the cost of things from rent to beef, others are shaking up their habit.—
Matt Sedensky,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Ag is being squeezed by foreign competition, rising costs, and weak leadership in Austin.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
One of Bernhardt’s pets, Uriah, is the shop cat, and spends her days greeting and playing with customers and basking in the sunshine in her kitty hammock, which overlooks the parking lot from a plate glass window.—
Emily M. Olson,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The first slide showed Haack sitting in a hammock in the water, wearing nothing but a white bikini and a Clé Cachée trucker hat.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This is just a small slice of what goes on daily at the company’s all-inclusive rehearsal and production space in two Tampa warehouses spread across 110,000 square feet.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Lance’s way of dealing with rehearsals and the shooting was very accurate.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The network previously confirmed that Guthrie would be exiting its Olympics coverage amid the search for her mother.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Five days into the desperate search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, authorities have not identified any suspects or persons of interest, said Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shake down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20down. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
