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 shakedown
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2025
But reps for the billionaire media mogul say the case is nothing but a shakedown.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 17 June 2025
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025
The memo frames DSTs as nothing more than attempt by foreign governments to shake down American technology businesses.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shakedown
Verb
Gang leaders had been caught with dozens of contraband phones and used them to run drug rings and order murders, arsons, robberies and shakedowns throughout California and beyond, according to court records.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2025
But reps for the billionaire media mogul say the case is nothing but a shakedown.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 17 June 2025
Noun
Before Clint enters a back-room poker game in the store where the enforcer needs to shake down one of the players, Hank runs down the top five underdog movies of all time.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025
The memo frames DSTs as nothing more than attempt by foreign governments to shake down American technology businesses.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shakedown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shakedown
Verb
-
Business Technology News #5 – Here are 10 ways to use Grok 4 that feel like cheating: AI resources platform God of Prompt listed 10 creative ways to use Grok 4 – xAI’s large language model – on its X feed.—
Gene Marks,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
-
What People Are Saying Byron's wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, removed her last name from her Facebook account and later deleted it following the cheating allegations, Page Six reported.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Prosecutors said Garcia was asleep in the lower bunk when Lopez got on top of him and started to strangle him.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
8 July 2025
-
Should officials have evacuated the low-lying areas near the Guadalupe River—including the bunks at Camp Mystic—on the afternoon of July 3rd, when the Austin/San Antonio office of the N.W.S. issued a flood watch?—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, entrepreneurs who built empires from nothing learned their most valuable lessons through painful trial and error.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
-
In fact, Courtney says that finding the most suitable curling tool is all about trial and error.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
In World War II, amphibious aircraft were used for reconnaissance, search and rescue operations, and anti-submarine warfare.—
Daniel Cote,
Robb Report,
9 July 2025
-
The fire call came in at 1:21 p.m., and firefighters were conducting reconnaissance on the blaze when bullets began raining down at about 2 p.m., Norris told reporters.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
Kalvin Phillips squeezes a pass through the gap and into Omari Hutchinson, taking three Forest players out of the game.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
-
Marlene alleged her son grabbed and started to squeeze her throat.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Guests arrive down a pebbled driveway to a single-story bungalow, elegantly set back among hydrangeas, pitch pines, and red cedars, with a neat lawn and patio with sun loungers and hammock.—
Mary Holland,
Robb Report,
10 July 2025
-
Amazon’s secret outlet has steep discounts on patio and garden upgrades, including charcoal grills and smokers, hammocks, outdoor seating, patio umbrellas, and other backyard must-haves.—
Emily Weaver,
People.com,
4 July 2025
Noun
-
Many scouts were concerned by Cooper’s score of 11 on the 50-question Wonderlic test.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
-
While the former Boise Young Rider Development Squad members are going wheel to wheel against the best in the world in Europe, the next generation of BYRDS cyclists put their skills to the test at the 38th annual criterium on Saturday in downtown Boise.—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
Police also found luxury goods and clothing, not limited to jewelry, high-end handbags and sports memorabilia, in their search of storage units owned by Nezhinskiy in New Jersey.—
Zach Powell,
New York Times,
20 July 2025
-
As of early Sunday morning local time, search and rescue efforts remained underway for those who are still missing, according to state media outlet Vietnamnet.—
Eve Brennan,
CNN Money,
20 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shakedown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shakedown. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share