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
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Recent Examples of shakedown
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
Christopher Bouzy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Another alleged major North Shore drug pusher is facing serious charges of distributing fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine — and even shaking down one of his own dealers at gunpoint.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shakedown
Verb
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
Noun
Law firms are shaken down into submission.
—Christopher Bouzy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Another alleged major North Shore drug pusher is facing serious charges of distributing fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine — and even shaking down one of his own dealers at gunpoint.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shakedown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shakedown
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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Through much trial and error, Flores was able to teach himself how to program the skeletons to move their jaws and heads in time with prerecorded dialogue or songs of his choosing.—
Endia Fontanez,
AZCentral.com,
24 Oct. 2025
-
While the benefits of T can be amazing, figuring out the side effects can also take trial and error.—
Quispe López,
Them.,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Even human intelligence will follow, as visual reconnaissance teams view what is happening in other settlements or try to recruit sources who live and work there.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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Sustained winds were a hundred and eighty-five miles per hour, but a reconnaissance mission to the eyewall found gusts at sea level in excess of a hundred and ninety miles per hour, and much higher a few hundred feet up.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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George Matysik, executive director of Share Food Program, a Philadelphia food bank, told USA TODAY that food banks are already squeezed by federal funding cuts.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
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Then, squeeze your Magic Eraser a few times to activate the foaming bubbles.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Available in cypress green or slate, Samsonite’s Elevation Plus backpack features a laptop pouch that is designed like a hammock to help protect your device from hard impacts.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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Sleeping in hammocks above the jungle floor to avoid venomous insect bites.—
Kit Bernardi,
USA Today,
14 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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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
“Shakedown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shakedown. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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