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
Relevance
1
as in bunk
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
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
Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
As soon as Masa kisses his son good-bye, a man Masa has evidently come to shake down for money spots him from across the courtyard and flees.
—Chris Klimek, Vulture, 24 July 2024
Liam Quinn, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Harmonies abound as Elliott and Aaliyah take turns bemoaning the wrongdoer, culminating in a double-time shakedown from Da Brat.
52.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Verb
The memo frames DSTs as nothing more than attempt by foreign governments to shake down American technology businesses.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
As soon as Masa kisses his son good-bye, a man Masa has evidently come to shake down for money spots him from across the courtyard and flees.
—Chris Klimek, Vulture, 24 July 2024
Noun
In a statement, Sharpe’s attorney Lanny Davis described the lawsuit as a shakedown attempt and claimed that the relationship between the accuser and Sharpe was consensual.
—Liam Quinn, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Harmonies abound as Elliott and Aaliyah take turns bemoaning the wrongdoer, culminating in a double-time shakedown from Da Brat.
52.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake down
Verb
-
Trouble is, the elder Broadway managed to cheat St. Christopher out of his share of the plunder.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
13 June 2025
-
Iran's response: cheating and hiding its nuclear weapons program; sprinting toward a bomb; and trying to assassinate senior American officials, including President Trump.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
While kids will love the deluxe king bunk room, there are a variety of spacious accommodations for families.—
Angela Caraway-Carlton,
Miami Herald,
5 June 2025
-
Society Hotel The boutique Society Hotel is set in an old schoolhouse and has the complete traveler accommodation toolkit: bunk rooms, private rooms, and cutesy cabins.—
Zoe Baillargeon,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
After months of trial and error, the doctors had finally sourced control of the infection.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 June 2025
-
On the Menu From this trial and error, Tarun created a base formula, but even with his measurements, Vivek struggled to recreate the chai.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
And while Ukrainian interceptors have brought down thousands of the Russian reconnaissance drones that find targets for their artillery, these are still also very much present.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
-
The training unit was located to the rear of the 620-mile active front line, where Russian reconnaissance and strike drones are able to strike.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 June 2025
Verb
-
Despite remaining hugely cash-generative at the operating level, outgoings on player transfers, loan interest and the £50million investment at the Carrington training ground have squeezed their ability to spend quite so readily as in the past.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
-
Team-building is not about squeezing sufficient value out of every single contract or assembling a roster of yes men.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
16 June 2025
Noun
-
Nags Head Hammocks has a series of stores on the Outer Banks; relax on their back deck in Duck on rope swings and hammocks. SeaDragon & Yellowhouse – The Gallery in Duck spotlight work from local and regional creators in North Carolina and coastal Virginia.—
Kate Lewis,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
-
And like any great summer camp destination, Collective Retreats also has a fantastic Great Lawn, where guests can gather for games, lounge in hammocks, or sit around the fire pits and roast a few s'mores.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
And given the test this month’s worth of games against postseason contenders has provided, the Dodgers simply needed to hold on.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
14 June 2025
-
Soil tests can reveal if your soil has sufficient levels of calcium and can determine if your soil pH is optimal for nutrient availability.—
Nora Doonan,
Hartford Courant,
14 June 2025
Noun
-
San Antonio officials said the search for the missing was focused on the creek.—
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,
Arkansas Online,
14 June 2025
-
During that search, the Marines also found the remains of another Marine, Pfc.—
Kairi Lowery,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shake down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20down. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share