shake down 1 of 2

verb

Definition of shake downnext
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

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shakedown

2 of 2

noun

1
as in bunk

Related Words
2
as in test

Related Words
3
as in reconnaissance

Related 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 down
Verb
Will the agency adopt the model of personal injury attorneys and serial plaintiffs who have abused the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Unruh Civil Rights Act to shake down unsuspecting business owners for purely technical violations of the law? — Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026 The city hired a second firm to represent Watts, as the city was legally responsible for covering legal judgments against him despite his federal prison sentence for shaking down a drug courier. — Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
Notably, these shakedown attempts come more than 15 years after Michael’s death, thus carrying no risk of being sued for defamation. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026 Previous versions of the script depicted the case against the singer as being a shakedown, according to The New York Times. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shake down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake down
  1. cheat
  2. bunk
  3. test
  4. reconnaissance
  5. squeeze
  6. hammock
  7. rehearsal
  8. search
Verb
  • For anyone still motivated to cheat, election systems in the United States are designed with multiple layers of protection and transparency intended to stand in the way.
    — Ali Swenson, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
  • The president used California, a favorite target, to hint that Democrats were cheating.
    — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of cheat
Noun
  • The 4,200-square-foot pool house has a game room, dance floor and full bar equipped with 16 bunk beds spread across two bunk rooms.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026
  • The unit was nearly full, and the only empty spaces were on the top bunks.
    — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
Definition of bunk
Noun
  • The agent, which was powered by some of OpenAI’s most advanced models, ran amok during a security test.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 22 July 2026
  • This great, once improbable, step into the unknown has the potential to bring tests against Milan, Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen, and nights like never before at the Stadium of Light.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of test
Noun
  • Although ground robots have appeared in several defensive operations, their use has been largely limited by both sides to logistics, casualty evacuation, and reconnaissance.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Typically, the first malware to run was a reconnaissance program that gathered information from the infected device.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026
Definition of reconnaissance
Verb
  • Barbara Rainey, a Cherry resident of 76 years, said a school bus hit her cousin’s car while trying to squeeze between vehicles parked on either side.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
  • Tournament football isn’t generally conducive to pressing, with so many matches squeezed into such a short window, and without the cohesion that comes from club sides training together for months.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of squeeze
Noun
  • Find a shady spot, hang a hammock, and give yourself permission to slow down for an hour.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 20 July 2026
  • There are gorgeous swaths of untouched beaches, as well as dune, lagoon, pine flatland, salt marsh, and hammock habitats to explore.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
Definition of hammock
Noun
  • The rest of the trailer features behind-the-scenes looks into their dance rehearsals, recording sessions in the studio, meeting starstruck Eyekons at fan events, and footage from their music video sets.
    — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026
  • The 515 Music Hub is also new, a partnership between Music Across Borders, Open Doors KC and KC Jazz Alive and has hosted musicians at its rehearsal space and live venue.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026
Definition of rehearsal
Noun
  • The search lasted until Monday, when Núñez returned to the disaster site convinced that her son had not survived and that his body was still beneath the rubble.
    — Susana Erazo, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • The San Francisco Police Department resumed search-and-recovery efforts Thursday.
    — Michael McGough Updated July 16, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of search

Browse Nearby Words

shake a leg
shake down
shakedown
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Cite this Entry

“Shake down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20down. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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