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
2
Example Sentences
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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
John Annese, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Images have just emerged of a shakedown test for the R26 in Barcelona, so expect to see the final car perhaps at the very beginning of the year.
—Jeremy White, Wired News, 17 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
He was freed on supervised release in May 2020, but quickly broke that pledge, chowing down with his fellow Colombo gangsters at the legendary Brennan and Carr restaurant that November to discuss the crime family’s future, and their labor union shakedown scheme.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Images have just emerged of a shakedown test for the R26 in Barcelona, so expect to see the final car perhaps at the very beginning of the year.
—Jeremy White, Wired News, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake down
Verb
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Lægreid wasn’t the only athlete caught up in a cheating scandal, however.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
23 Feb. 2026
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The seemingly quaint and cordial sport of curling was rocked by cheating allegations during the Winter Games.—
Sallee Ann Harrison,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The rooms There are over 200 rooms across multiple categories that range from the dinky-but-perfectly-formed bunk rooms to the three-bed townhouses.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
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The kitchen is sleek and fully equipped for feeding a crowd, and the sleeping arrangements strike that rare balance between elevated and practical—proper suites for the adults and a bunk room that kids will immediately claim.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There's also a newer blood test for adults 45 or older.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026
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More than 73% of AP test takers in the district are Black or Hispanic, Coleman added.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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After aerial reconnaissance flights and mitigation work, search-and-rescue members were flown into the site by CHP helicopter.—
Michael McGough,
Sacbee.com,
22 Feb. 2026
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The South Korean company is positioning the technology as a practical power solution for unmanned logistics, reconnaissance, and battlefield support missions, particularly in austere and high-temperature environments.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Its basic ingredients include tequila, lime juice (ideally freshly squeezed), orange liqueur like triple sec, and usually salt on the rim.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
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Many are no doubt operating with the salary-cap space required to squeeze an extension for McDuffie into their budget.—
Sam McDowell
February 20,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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During the recent rehearsal, meant to mimic launch day operations, the SLS rocket was loaded with and later drained of more than 700,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
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Beyond the studio, CYE’s first year has been packed with variety-show appearances, photoshoots, fan meets, performance schedules, and now concert rehearsals.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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When that might happen is highly uncertain, and completely up to Guthrie, given this month’s agonizing and all-consuming search for her mother Nancy.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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According to Gaber, the university chancellor, Charlotte didn’t open the search until after the transfer portal closed in mid-January, but zeroed in on White after receiving interest from more than 100 candidates.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shake down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20down. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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