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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Recent Examples of shake up
PC Magazine, 9 June 2025
Could the team be open to shaking up the roster more?
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 16 June 2025
Many close watchers of FEMA do think the agency needs a dramatic shake-up and that states should be responsible for more of the financial burden of catastrophe.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Verb
After Criterion's 2008 masterpiece shook up the racing genre, I've been convinced that the ideal racing game features an open world that captures the real-life joy of casually driving to interesting locales, but with a recklessness that's only safe in a video game.
—PC Magazine, 9 June 2025
Could the team be open to shaking up the roster more?
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025
Noun
Other options include restricting tax relief on pensions for high earners, a £3 billion levy on the gambling industry and a shake-up of council tax, which is based on 1991 property values.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 16 June 2025
Many close watchers of FEMA do think the agency needs a dramatic shake-up and that states should be responsible for more of the financial burden of catastrophe.
—Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake up
Verb
-
The near miss shocked the country, but polling showed sharp partisan divides even in the case of the near assassination of a presidential candidate.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
-
Lydia and Milton were the only Love Is Blind season 5 couple to get married in the finale, and their success at the time shocked viewers after their tumultuous season.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
11 June 2025
Noun
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That said, the large-cap benchmarks are looking moderately overbought technically — not a bearish condition necessarily, but one that can lead to chop and churn, fatigue and shakeouts over the next little while.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
9 June 2025
-
The Solyndra bankruptcy and the ongoing solar shakeout naturally shadowed the proceedings.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
12 Apr. 2012
Noun
-
That would easily replace the supply lost from a total shutdown of the Straits of Hormuz for sixty days.—
Michael Lynch,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
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More recently during years of divided government, GOP leaders had to rely on Democrats to approve must-pass funding bills to avoid shutdowns.—
Deirdre Walsh,
NPR,
12 June 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
-
Dismay or appall you, sure, but never surprise you.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Prosecutors and defense attorneys will begin delivering their closing arguments Friday in Read’s second murder trial over the death of her Boston cop boyfriend John O’Keefe.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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After both sides gave their closing arguments Friday morning, Judge Beverly Cannone spent the early afternoon reading jury instructions before alternates were selected and the remaining jurors were sent to the deliberation room.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2025
Verb
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The trade stunned the sport, perplexed rival executives and devastated Bostonians.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
-
Charlotte had stunned the Canucks with a goal at the 8:22 mark of the first period, and the game was tied 1-1 entering the final 20 minutes.—
Steve Lyttle,
Charlotte Observer,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shake up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20up. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.
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