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
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 11 Apr. 2025
Toy Story saw a happy-go-lucky cowboy figurine named Woody (Tom Hanks) have his world shaken up when his owner Andy (John Morris) received a cool, brand new action figure by the name of Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen).
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Patricia Zengerle, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
The recent shake-up in the market amid uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s tariffs has provided an attractive buying opportunity for Chevron , according to Matt Maley of Miller Tabak.
—Sean Conlon, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Verb
The trade war between the world’s two largest economies has shaken up trade in recent days, leading to an unstable market, worries about the impact on U.S. consumers and questions around a possible recession.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 11 Apr. 2025
Toy Story saw a happy-go-lucky cowboy figurine named Woody (Tom Hanks) have his world shaken up when his owner Andy (John Morris) received a cool, brand new action figure by the name of Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen).
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
Trump also pushed out five other admirals and generals in an unprecedented shake-up of U.S. military leadership.
—Patricia Zengerle, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
The recent shake-up in the market amid uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s tariffs has provided an attractive buying opportunity for Chevron , according to Matt Maley of Miller Tabak.
—Sean Conlon, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake up
Verb
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The manhunt The slaying of Pascal shocked in the Upper Florida Keys community, which, while certainly not immune from crime, rarely experiences brutal murders.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2025
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One father, a lawyer who teaches constitutional law, was shocked by the university’s roughshod treatment of his son and students and the ease with which administrators disregarded their rights.—
Wynn Smiley,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The shakeout showed why these kinds of mistakes make a difference.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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In reality, the shakeout led to hundreds of companies falling by the wayside, but the strongest companies—Google and Amazon among them—really thrived.—
Steve Case,
Time,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The company’s Los Angeles refinery may face a similar fate as a San Francisco-area plant that is slated for permanent shutdown by this time next year, executives said during a conference call with investors.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2025
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The lawmaker pledged to continue making the case for the importance of the Department of Education despite extreme overhauls on the horizon of a complete shutdown.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Still, there is plenty here that should appall both Democrats and Republicans.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
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Dismay or appall you, sure, but never surprise you.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In closing arguments Thursday, Deputy Prosecutor Jessica Arnold, with co-counsel Maureen Koonce, said the victim told others, including her sister, a school classmate what happened two decades ago.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2025
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Cardinal Kevin Farrell will preside over the closing and sealing of the coffin in his role of camerlengo, or interim Vatican administrator.—
Colleen Barry,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Broadus stunned in a plush pink coat and matching fedora.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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In February 2013, Benedict stunned the Catholic world by becoming the first pope in six centuries to retire.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shake up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20up. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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