as in to shock
to cause an unpleasant surprise for
the news that we had failed the auto inspection shook us up
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shake up
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
Shelton shook up the lineup before Monday’s game and the Twins (4-6) got some immediate results.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 7 Apr. 2026
Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
That shake-up was on display within days of starting.
—Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Verb
For some, this could feel like a sudden wave of clarity and courage, encouraging you to shake up routines that have grown stale.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
Shelton shook up the lineup before Monday’s game and the Twins (4-6) got some immediate results.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
For some teams, that involves a shake-up in the coaching staff and front office.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
That shake-up was on display within days of starting.
—Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake up
Verb
-
This week, coach Javier Mascherano shocked the league by departing the club, leaving Guillermo Hoyos as the interim coach.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Eight years later, the broken family is shocked when she is returned to them, as what should be a joyful reunion turns into a living nightmare.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Kirby told employees in a memo last month that the carrier would benefit from any shakeout in the industry as part of rising oil and fuel prices, potentially providing purchase opportunities.—
Bloomberg,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Kirby told employees in a memo last month that the carrier would benefit from any shakeout in the industry as part of rising oil and fuel prices, potentially providing purchase opportunities.—
Siddharth Philip,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hiram Crombie is shocked and appalled that Jamie is taking the Trading Post from him and kicking him and the other men off Fraser’s Ridge?—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The proposal appalled the science community and lawmakers.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Levin, typically springy, glowered as Wolf told them about how the shutdown had devastated her life.—
Paula Mejía,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
-
App downloads on one day in March were up more than 600% compared to the daily average over two previous months, The Guardian reported, and shares in the company have increased 50% since the shutdown began.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The South Bay’s theater and vocal world were stunned by the sudden passing of Fang Klein, a popular performer, vocal instructor and performing arts advocate, with tributes throughout social media pouring in from all corners of the community.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The teen’s murder stunned parkgoers.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
School closings There are several school closings in Washtenaw and Wayne counties for Wednesday, including Ann Arbor Public Schools and Ypsilanti Community Schools.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Ball, the Hornets’ star, gave the Hornets the lead for good with a go-ahead layup in the closing seconds of overtime.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shake up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20up. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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