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
2
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shake down
David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
But in years past, many cases reviewed by CNN involved scam artists who sought to shake down immigrants for cash under threat of deportation.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
While the changes have the chance to level the playing field early in the season, one team appears to be jumping ahead of the field out of the shakedown sessions.
—Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Verb
Julian dispatches Ares and his deputy, Athena (an imperious Jodie Turner-Smith), to the physical world, ordering them to shake down Eve for information about Flynn’s code.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
But in years past, many cases reviewed by CNN involved scam artists who sought to shake down immigrants for cash under threat of deportation.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
While some teams had their own short shakedown runs and filming days ahead of time, all but one team (Williams) participated in last week’s Barcelona test.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
While the changes have the chance to level the playing field early in the season, one team appears to be jumping ahead of the field out of the shakedown sessions.
—Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake down
Verb
-
There is no need for Dems to cheat and deprive voters of their own choice.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Caregivers may be tempted to let kids win or even cheat to avoid meltdowns and tantrums.—
Stephanie Ganz,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Each has two bedrooms—the third tent’s second is a bunk room, while the other two are perfectly symmetrical in their king bed floor plans.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Their homes and businesses were seized while they were imprisoned, often in overcrowded, wooden bunk houses in bleak locations with harsh conditions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These tests focused on strength, toughness, and the material’s ability to be shaped and formed into aircraft components.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Mar. 2026
-
That includes the origin story of how the lizard came to be, the creation of that Elio post-credits scene that incited the meme machine, and early test screening reactions that signaled there could be something more to that character.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And there are drives that feel like reconnaissance missions across the American landscape.—
Sponsored Content,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Camouflage, decoys, and deception Visual and infrared camouflage, decoys, and fake launchers together form a strategy Iran uses to confuse surveillance systems such as satellites and reconnaissance aircraft, in a bid to defend its ballistic missile systems.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This technical pivot would allow nations to squeeze every profitable drop from their own land with surgical precision, bypassing the geopolitical chaos of distant chokepoints and securing a future defined by Decentralized Techno-Resource Sovereignty.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
-
When residents are this squeezed, City Hall’s predictable response has been to charge us more.—
Bradley Schnell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
East Bungalows boast elevated terraces with hammocks, as well as two twin-sized beds on rollers that can be combined to form a king.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Mar. 2026
-
This hosts a living/dining spot with a hammock seat, some storage, additional seating, and a dining table.—
Adam Williams
March 04,
New Atlas,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Wendy’s wandering eye wrecks rehearsals.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Visitors can watch the rehearsal or sing along.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Idaho State Police, with assistance from local authorities, as well as search and rescue groups, excavated the backyard over several days — starting in a small spot near the fence line, and eventually removing and sifting dirt from the entire area.—
Alex Brizee
March 5,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Rescue teams launched a search operation after receiving a distress signal from the ship early Wednesday morning.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shake down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20down. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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