shake up 1 of 2

verb

Definition of shake upnext
as in to shock
to cause an unpleasant surprise for the news that we had failed the auto inspection shook us up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shake-up

2 of 2

noun

as in shakeout

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Dissimilar Words

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 up
Verb
Ford's Ranger is the best midsize pickup Ford's full-size pickup and small truck model aren't the only ones shaking up rankings. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 24 July 2026 Install Open Shelving Another fast, effective, and free way to shake up the layout of your kitchen and cabinets is by removing some of the doors strategically and embracing the art of shelf styling. — The Spruce, 22 July 2026
Noun
That’d mean a major shake-up in Los Angeles drug territories and a loud threat to the powers that run the drug market in the city at large. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 17 July 2026 Then came the biggest shake-up in pancreatic cancer care in decades. — Andrew Joseph, STAT, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shake up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake up
  1. shock
  2. shakeout
  3. appall
  4. shutdown
  5. stun
  6. closing
Verb
  • The move shocked the global scientific community and landed him in jail for three years.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
  • Twain and Marie-Anne became close friends, and Twain was shocked to learn that Marie-Anne and Lange had been allegedly carrying on an extramarital affair—losing both her husband and her best friend in one fell swoop.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 31 July 2026
Definition of shock
Noun
  • However, the industry recently faced a significant shakeout, with many firms collapsing amid platform crackdowns.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Citadel’s tactical trading fund also weathered a late-June shakeout in quantitative investing.
    — Yun Li, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Definition of shakeout
Verb
  • He was appalled by the slaughter, but, more than that, by the complacency of his neighbors, their willingness to ignore the bloody work being done under their noses.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • Many subjects were appalled by his treatment of his closest family.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 9 July 2026
Definition of appall
Noun
  • Early in the pandemic, many scientists and much of the public focused on community protection through shutdowns and social distancing, and then by pinning their hopes on what many hoped would be lasting protection from vaccines or prior infection.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced a nationwide state of alert in the energy sector on Friday, and warned that the Danube’s low water levels threatened the shutdown of Cernavoda’s second reactor.
    — Justin Spike, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of shutdown
Verb
  • It should be noted that Hong is a former star soccer player himself and captained the 2002 South Korean national team that stunned the world by finishing in fourth place at the World Cup.
    — Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • The announcement itself was unremarkable, but many were stunned to learn that the technology was fitted to 2014–2022 models, including cars with current 4G hardware.
    — Michael Harley, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026
Definition of stun
Noun
  • One of Reiter’s closing observations was that, in his view, nuclear power doesn’t belong on drones and airplanes.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The knockout finally arrived in the fourth, with France’s two-run single closing the book on the 25-year-old rookie.
    — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of closing

Browse Nearby Words

shakes up
shake up
shake-up
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Cite this Entry

“Shake up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20up. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of shake up for Spanish Speakers

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