Thesaurus results for SHAKES DOWN

shakes down

verb

present tense third-person singular of shake down

as in squeezes

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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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 shakes down The commission shakes down property owners by, say, requiring them to remove structures or give up development rights. — Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 1 May 2026 Later, Tom pours vodka into a Phillies cup and watches birds flutter by at night while Robbie gets his guns ready and shakes down a trap house. — Grace Byron, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shakes down

Verb

If internal fluid pressure drops during aggressive extraction, the surrounding earth squeezes the cavern inward, permanently shrinking total storage capacity and crushing steel well casings.

— Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
As engine speed rises, centrifugal force squeezes the drive clutch closed and pushes the belt farther outward.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of squeezes

Verb

February 19 – March 20 Your words may show where being misunderstood still stings.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
For van Ess, the decision particularly stings because Google Earth has long been regarded as one of the best tools to verify information posted on social media.

— Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 31 July 2026

Definition of stings

Verb

His torso and thighs grow eye-poppingly muscular beneath their skimpy fur-and-leather togs—a development that does not go unnoticed by a warrior named Red Hair, who plucks the young hunk from his post and tosses him into the prime time of the gladiator pit.

— Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
But the emotional gravity of this offering's deeply personal, melancholic lyrical content plucks an undeniably profound chord that uniquely separates it from the rest of his work.

— Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026

Definition of plucks

Verb

Jessica Gonzalez hustles behind her booth at the recent Renegade Craft Fair, frantically ringing up sales, answering questions and packaging her beeswax candles.

— Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Despite concerns that chip stocks could be topping out as the industry hustles to boost supply, Wall Street thinks Micron still has plenty of room to run.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 22 June 2026

Definition of hustles

Verb

Its 600-meter (1,969-foot) span beats the previous world record of 445 meters (1,460 feet) for concrete arch bridges.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Working with Gary Clark to create the musical heart that beats through the story has been an unforgettable journey of a lifetime.

— Ellise Shafer, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of beats

Verb

Open for breakfast and lunch, the eatery sticks largely to the classics—think omelets, pancakes, eggs Benedict, and plenty of biscuits, best enjoyed smothered in gravy, of course.

— Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026
Suppose a teenager visiting a zoo breaks into a lion’s cage and sticks his head into the beast’s mouth.

— Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of sticks

Browse Nearby Words

shakes a leg

shakes down

shakes (off)

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“Shakes down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shakes%20down. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of shakes down

verb

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