shake down 1 of 2

verb

Definition of shake downnext
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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shakedown

2 of 2

noun

1
as in bunk

Related Words
2
as in test

Related Words
3
as in reconnaissance

Related 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 down
Verb
Will the agency adopt the model of personal injury attorneys and serial plaintiffs who have abused the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Unruh Civil Rights Act to shake down unsuspecting business owners for purely technical violations of the law? — Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026 The city hired a second firm to represent Watts, as the city was legally responsible for covering legal judgments against him despite his federal prison sentence for shaking down a drug courier. — Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
There was a time before the cultural shakedown of Siamese Dream (1993) and the monolithic 28-track Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995) pushed the group’s theatrical rock to near ubiquity. — David Harris, SPIN, 2 June 2026 Notably, these shakedown attempts come more than 15 years after Michael’s death, thus carrying no risk of being sued for defamation. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shake down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake down
  1. cheat
  2. bunk
  3. test
  4. reconnaissance
  5. squeeze
  6. hammock
  7. rehearsal
  8. search
Verb
  • Not to be cheated in front of the largest assembly of Hall of Famers since the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, Schwarber flew out twice to deep center field.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Princeton University dropped its over century-old Honor Code tradition which let students take their exams without supervision, after an AI cheating scandal rattled the Ivy League institution.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheat
Noun
  • Shoes are way too clunky and be-socked feet on a bus are just asking to encounter a plug that’s strayed from a bunk while going round a corner.
    — Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Academia—like business, electoral politics, and the tech sector—has loads of fabulists and tons of bunk.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of bunk
Noun
  • Investigators said Smith requested a test drive, then pushed a salesperson away and drove off in the vehicle.
    — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The real test is not whether an e-bike can travel an impressive distance on paper.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of test
Noun
  • Pictures of Bowie conducting reconnaissance at the Capitol and buying a list of bomb-making ingredients at a hardware store — including long nails for shrapnel — were included in the affidavit.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Capers and his men knew the commander was essentially using their reconnaissance team as bait to flush out the enemy forces so the regular infantry could swoop in for the kind of large battle the big-brass strategy demanded at the time.
    — Ethan Rocke, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of reconnaissance
Verb
  • Questions no longer centre on marking this era with a trophy, but on how much juice is left to squeeze.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • To protect a specific area, such as a garden, Parker recommends properly installing snake fencing made from quarter-inch hardware cloth, which can help keep even newborn copperheads from squeezing through.
    — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of squeeze
Noun
  • The house had a great interior, great exterior, and that dune is right next to the hammock that [Tony] is sleeping in.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Outside, a fire pit, grill, and hammock create an inviting experience for evenings at home.
    — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of hammock
Noun
  • Washington and Seoul say their drills are defensive in nature, but North Korea calls them an invasion rehearsal and often reacts with weapons tests.
    — Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Baum und Pferdgarten’s collection was inspired by what dancers wear offstage between rehearsals and classes.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of rehearsal
Noun
  • The recovery ended a search that began on July 31 after the expedition, led by renowned climber Nirmal Purja, was swept away by an avalanche on Broad Peak.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • That information would be saved in a database and available for law enforcement searches.
    — Tory Wegerski, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of search

Browse Nearby Words

shake a leg
shake down
shakedown
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Cite this Entry

“Shake down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20down. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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