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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1
as in bunk
Related Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of shake down
William Pesek, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Law firms are shaken down into submission.
—Christopher Bouzy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
William Pesek, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Also going to the library: the proceeds of settlements that Trump has wrung out of media and tech companies following lawsuits that many critics have characterized as blatant shakedowns.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Verb
The message Tokyo is taking away from this is to slow-walk disbursements hoping the U.S. Supreme Court rules Trump lacks the authority to shake down trading partners via tariffs.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Law firms are shaken down into submission.
—Christopher Bouzy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
Trump’s tariff pacts are more shakedowns than negotiations.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Also going to the library: the proceeds of settlements that Trump has wrung out of media and tech companies following lawsuits that many critics have characterized as blatant shakedowns.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake down
Verb
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Blashill wants the Blackhawks to be a fast-pressure team at both ends of the rink, one that attacks vertically but never cheats for offense.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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When athletes are caught cheating, a number of familiar examples are often brought up.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Taylor River Lodge includes two main residences, both with king suites, bunk rooms, and comfortable spaces for relaxing and entertaining.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
29 Oct. 2025
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But if the thought of freezing cold isolation and bunk pods sounds more like punishment than adventure, Mongolia’s Gobi already offers glimpses of the otherworldly in a far more comfortable setting.—
Rosanna Philpott,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The research team also highlighted that the system passed all tests.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
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The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people, including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.—
Khloe Quill , Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The system can also blind enemy optics and reconnaissance systems, crippling adversary surveillance before detection.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
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The mission has included maritime patrols by P-8 reconnaissance aircraft and long-range surveillance flights to map trafficking routes.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The polls had him on top for months, and his decision to focus his mayoral campaign on cost-of-living issues proved to be the right one in a city where residents are increasingly squeezed between growing rents and ever costlier public services.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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Aid is declining and rising debt is squeezing public budgets.—
Obiageli Ezekwesili,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Cycle through the spa’s saunas, steams, hot pools, and cold plunges, then retire to a breezy hammock or calming cabin for idyllic repose.—
Lisa Kadane,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
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Marsh, and hammock habitats to explore.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
1 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Hutchins died at age 42 in October 2021 after a gun Baldwin was holding during Rust rehearsals discharged, striking her and the film’s writer-director, Joel Souza.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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But honestly, the last three months of rehearsals, getting to know each other, have been an absolute joy for everyone involved.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Landry, who charged LSU’s board of supervisors with leading the search for a new football coach, expressed dissatisfaction with the massive contract that Woodward had given Kelly, which included a buyout for as much as $53 million.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Now, the search goes on for the remains of 13 Israeli hostages believed to be hidden somewhere in the rubble across Gaza, where thousands of Palestinian bodies also lie.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shake down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20down. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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