SHAKE-UP Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

shake up 1 of 2

verb

Definition of shake up

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shake-up

2 of 2

noun

as in shakeout

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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

Offer sheets and the threat of them have shaken up this offseason. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 6 July 2026 The Industrial Revolution had shaken up the economy, and there was a feeling from people in the country of suspicious of people in the city. — NBC news, 5 July 2026

Noun

Your usual preferences could use a little shake-up, so book the class, plan the trip and consider the option that feels less predictable. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026 Trump has made no secret of his desire for a shake-up of Warner Bros. — Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shake up

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake up

Verb

Englert and McLeod are agonizingly shocked when Anastasia and Sasha, on separate ships, hear each others’ voices for the first time in months, and realize the depths of their longing.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 July 2026
Several of the companies were shocked by the number of requirements levied in the NASA documents.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026

Definition of shock

Verb

The other Israelites are appalled by this heinous action and go to war against the Benjaminites, who are nearly destroyed before an eventual reconciliation (Judges 20–21).

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
My friend told me some private information about him that appalled me.

— R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

Definition of appall

Verb

In the 2008 Batman sequel, Ledger stunned as the unpredictable Joker, a performance for which the late Australian actor won a posthumous Oscar.

— Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
Forte was stunned to learn that the tower was closed to the public and saddened to see its sorry state.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Definition of stun

Noun

In a note on Tuesday, analysts reaffirmed their year-end price target of 7,100 for the broad market index, representing a 5% drop from the week’s closing level.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 July 2026
With the peloton boasting fresh legs, expect major fireworks in the closing kilometres.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of closing

Browse Nearby Words

shakes up

shake up

shake-up

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Shake up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20up. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of shake up

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on shake up

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fulcrum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes