as in shocked
to cause an unpleasant surprise for
the news that we had failed the auto inspection shook us up
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Recent Examples of shaken up
Worries over how artificial intelligence may disrupt software companies have shaken up those stocks, and Citi says some of them may be ripe for a rebound.
—
Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
That included roughly two years ago after Duke’s loss at Wake Forest, when Blue Devils player Kyle Filipowski was shaken up after a Demon Deacons fan collided with him, while Jared McCain’s exit to the tunnel was briefly blocked by a Wake Forest fan.
—Aaron Beard, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Several fan-favorite characters have taken their leave amid the pressures of love, duty, and society, and each exit has shaken up the delicate order of the ton.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
The accidental shooting left parents, staff and students shaken up.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
But the mayor of the state’s third-largest city has shaken up the most wide-open California governor’s race in decades.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
The shipping market is being shaken up by the intervention, with freight rates surging for some routes.
—Weilun Soon Bloomberg, Arkansas Online, 21 Jan. 2026
Burt, a delightful and spirited 69-year-old street musician with Parkinson’s has his daily life shaken up when, Sammy, a wayward young man from New York shows up claiming to be his son.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2026
In less than a year, Kennedy has bulldozed vaccine policy precedent and shaken up government personnel.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 Jan. 2026
Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
That included roughly two years ago after Duke’s loss at Wake Forest, when Blue Devils player Kyle Filipowski was shaken up after a Demon Deacons fan collided with him, while Jared McCain’s exit to the tunnel was briefly blocked by a Wake Forest fan.
—Aaron Beard, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Several fan-favorite characters have taken their leave amid the pressures of love, duty, and society, and each exit has shaken up the delicate order of the ton.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
The accidental shooting left parents, staff and students shaken up.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
But the mayor of the state’s third-largest city has shaken up the most wide-open California governor’s race in decades.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
The shipping market is being shaken up by the intervention, with freight rates surging for some routes.
—Weilun Soon Bloomberg, Arkansas Online, 21 Jan. 2026
Burt, a delightful and spirited 69-year-old street musician with Parkinson’s has his daily life shaken up when, Sammy, a wayward young man from New York shows up claiming to be his son.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2026
In less than a year, Kennedy has bulldozed vaccine policy precedent and shaken up government personnel.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaken up
Verb
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The timing of the resignation shocked players and union staff.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Her mom, Stefanie, brought her in to a doctor and when the X-rays came back, they were shocked to find a 56-degree curve in her spine.—
Marielle Mohs,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Konstantin, 4, a sociable boy, is often frightened by loud noises and guards, his parents said.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
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This is no longer about ideology, this is about standing up for those who are being wrongly arrested, being unfairly harassed or being made to feel constantly frightened in their own homes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Everyone sees what’s happening, but everyone’s scared to talk.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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After all, the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre only scared away investors from China for a few years; opportunities to make money in Deng Xiaoping’s market economy soon lured them back.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaken up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaken%20up. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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