shake up 1 of 2

verb

Definition of shake upnext
as in to shock
to cause an unpleasant surprise for the news that we had failed the auto inspection shook us up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shake-up

2 of 2

noun

as in shakeout

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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 up
Verb
The opening of the new Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee this summer shook up the local concert scene, with some 40 shows booked there that otherwise would have hit a local arena or the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand. — Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 6 Sep. 2026 That vision quickly gets a lot more ambitious — and a lot more chaotic — as Murdoch and Larry lay out their plans for shaking up the newspaper world. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Noun
Following Thursday’s historic episode, the game is getting a major shake-up, with no Head of Household (HOH), Power of Veto or BB Blockbuster competitions. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 The auction house Phillips is currently going through a major executive shake-up as several high-profile senior leaders have exited the company this summer, as ARTnews reported last week. — Hok-Hang Cheung, ARTnews.com, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shake up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake up
  1. shock
  2. shakeout
  3. appall
  4. shutdown
  5. stun
  6. closing
Verb
  • The couple had previously seen a single owl on an apartment windowsill a few days earlier and were shocked even then, Williams recalled.
    — Joseph B. Frederick, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
  • What shocked him was how unregulated—and unsophisticated—the rental market seemed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of shock
Noun
  • More importantly, according to several insiders, in the midst of a shakeout that is seeing executives stay or exiting, DC heads James Gunn and Peter Safran are staying put.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The reflex sell-off after Wednesday's Federal Reserve rate hike gave the S&P 500 a momentary test of 7500, which proved a timely shakeout.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of shakeout
Verb
  • Dorian Thornley, the proprietor of Westsider Rare and Used Books, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, gives a basic literary-knowledge quiz to the young college graduates applying to work there, and has been appalled at the results.
    — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • He was especially encouraged by conversations with current Cornell students, who said the campus needs more people who are appalled by the current news.
    — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of appall
Noun
  • Sure enough, the Brewers untouchable bullpen immediately got to work, getting a shutdown inning as JoJo Romero got Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman in order on just 12 pitches.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Palisades is expected to be the first nuclear plant in the world to resume generating power after beginning the decommissioning process, but other countries have restarted or refurbished reactors after long-term shutdowns, the association said.
    — Jennifer McDermott, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of shutdown
Verb
  • View gallery - 7 images Chinese automotive giant BYD, now the world’s biggest electric vehicle (EV) maker, stunned this week’s Paris Motor Show with its grandest and most technologically impressive vehicle yet.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The man was arrested and sent to prison while Ali was in college, which left the actor stunned.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of stun
Noun
  • Carney’s closing appeal came after two days of campaigning against separation in the province.
    — Rob Gillies, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • For all its relative quiet, the week’s closing impression was that there was plenty for those intent on listening to Shanghai’s voices.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of closing

Browse Nearby Words

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shake up
shake-up
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Cite this Entry

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

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