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
Michael R. Blood, Fortune, 2 June 2026
The collaborative troupe—made up of parts of Nine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) and German-Iraqi producer Boys Noize—effectively shook up the desert with their sonic blitzkrieg that reinterpreted NIN’s songbook into a hyper-electronic fever dream.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 2026
James Horncastle, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Star-Telegram columnist Mac Engel covered a packed week of North Texas sports and entertainment news, from stadium spending to a coaching shake-up.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Verb
Pratt has focused his campaign on reducing homelessness and boosting police ranks, arguing that an outsider is needed to shake up city hall.
—Michael R. Blood, Fortune, 2 June 2026
The collaborative troupe—made up of parts of Nine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) and German-Iraqi producer Boys Noize—effectively shook up the desert with their sonic blitzkrieg that reinterpreted NIN’s songbook into a hyper-electronic fever dream.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 2026
Noun
Allegri will now depart alongside sporting director Igli Tare, chief executive Giorgio Furlani and technical director Geoffrey Moncada in a radical shake-up of the top of the club.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Star-Telegram columnist Mac Engel covered a packed week of North Texas sports and entertainment news, from stadium spending to a coaching shake-up.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake up
Verb
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The Rockies scored five runs in the ninth on a three-run home run by Hunter Goodman and a walk-off, two-run homer by Ezequiel Tovar to shock the Giants in an electrifying 8-6 win at Coors Field.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
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Fans were shocked to learn a number of details about the actors behind Briar U’s charming student body, from who their real-life partners are to the fact that lead Ella Bright grew up in London and has a British accent.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
Noun
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After last week’s industrywide sell-off, the question is whether AI stocks broadly are heading for a long downturn or just needed a shakeout to get rid of excessive optimism.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
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The shakeout is probably just beginning, as the impact of AI reverberates across the business funding ecosystem, from venture to private credit to public giants.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Democratic lawmakers were predictably appalled by Pulte’s selection.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
2 June 2026
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Taxpayers were rightfully appalled.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Lawmakers agreed to separate funding for ICE and Border Patrol as Republicans and Democrats struggled to reach a compromise on reforms even as a record-long DHS shutdown dragged on.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
9 June 2026
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Following the shutdown of Mint, a wave of competitors has emerged, each offering a different approach to budgeting, saving and managing money.—
Nick Perry,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Lithgow, to the contrary, was clearly stunned — and deeply honored.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
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The speed stunned Hamlin, who credited his team with some quick fixes that stabilized the wounded vehicle.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Noun
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Prosecutor urges jurors to focus on victim During its closing argument, the state pressed jurors to center their attention on the young life cut short.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
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Tarrant County Homebuyer Assistance Program For buyers looking outside Fort Worth proper, Tarrant County offers its own down payment and closing-cost assistance program.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shake up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20up. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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