as in to shock
to cause an unpleasant surprise for
the news that we had failed the auto inspection shook us up
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shake up
Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Read more Trump signs executive order targeting college accreditation process
President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to shake up the college accreditation process, a topic that rarely gets political sunlight but is immensely important to universities.
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025
Jonathan Swan Annie Correal Mark Walker Charlie Savage, New York Times, 2 May 2025
The announcement confirmed earlier reports that Waltz would soon be leaving his role as national security advisor, marking the first big staffing shake-up of Trump’s second term in office.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Verb
Zetterlund was always going to be a prime candidate to get more minutes if the Sens needed to shake up their lines.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Read more Trump signs executive order targeting college accreditation process
President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to shake up the college accreditation process, a topic that rarely gets political sunlight but is immensely important to universities.
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
This is the first significant personnel overhaul of top White House aides, and the kind of shake-up President Trump has sought to avoid in his second term.
—Jonathan Swan Annie Correal Mark Walker Charlie Savage, New York Times, 2 May 2025
The announcement confirmed earlier reports that Waltz would soon be leaving his role as national security advisor, marking the first big staffing shake-up of Trump’s second term in office.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake up
Verb
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The manhunt The slaying of Pascal shocked in the Upper Florida Keys community, which, while certainly not immune from crime, rarely experiences brutal murders.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2025
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One father, a lawyer who teaches constitutional law, was shocked by the university’s roughshod treatment of his son and students and the ease with which administrators disregarded their rights.—
Wynn Smiley,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The shakeout showed why these kinds of mistakes make a difference.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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In reality, the shakeout led to hundreds of companies falling by the wayside, but the strongest companies—Google and Amazon among them—really thrived.—
Steve Case,
Time,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The company’s Los Angeles refinery may face a similar fate as a San Francisco-area plant that is slated for permanent shutdown by this time next year, executives said during a conference call with investors.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2025
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The lawmaker pledged to continue making the case for the importance of the Department of Education despite extreme overhauls on the horizon of a complete shutdown.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Still, there is plenty here that should appall both Democrats and Republicans.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
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Dismay or appall you, sure, but never surprise you.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Cardinal Kevin Farrell will preside over the closing and sealing of the coffin in his role of camerlengo, or interim Vatican administrator.—
Colleen Barry,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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As part of the debt restructuring, MSG Networks will make a $65 million payment at closing of the load, while its parent company, Sphere Entertainment, will pay $15 million.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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When Kevin Anderson, Burns' friend from prison, read the transcript of the hearing, he was stunned.—
Erin Moriarty, Liza Finley,
CBS News,
4 May 2025
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The speed of China’s advances has stunned even foreign carmakers with deep roots in the country, which shut its borders for years during the Covid-19 pandemic.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shake up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20up. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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