Thesaurus results for SHAKING DOWN

shaking down

verb

present participle of shake down

as in cheating

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 shaking down On Thursday, Diamantis will be sentenced for crimes associated with shaking down contractors on four school building projects in three municipalities — Hartford, New Britain and and Tolland. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 14 Sep. 2026 This brainstorm is aimed at shaking down travel booking platforms. — Susan Shelley, Daily News, 13 May 2026 The city hired a second firm to represent Watts, as the city was legally responsible for covering legal judgments against him despite his federal prison sentence for shaking down a drug courier. — Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026 And that’s important, especially as players age, because teams like the Dolphins seize on shaking down injured, or underperforming talent. — Miami Herald, 26 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaking down

Verb

The attack on Hugging Face was then part of an elaborate attempt to evade being caught cheating.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Educators raise concerns about cognitive offloading and easy access to cheating.

— Kiryn Hoffman, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of cheating

Verb

Democrats have hammered on meat as well, but mainly just as one of the staples that cost more under Trump, squeezing voters’ pocketbooks.

— Nicholas Riccardi, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
Democrats have hammered on meat as well, but mainly just as one of the staples that cost more under Trump, squeezing voters' pocketbooks.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of squeezing

Verb

Continue reading … CROSSING THE AISLE — Manchin delivers stinging rebuke to Schumer with surprise Senate campaign stop.

— , FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
That money has been transformed into frequent online and television ads either stinging or lauding the two candidates.

— John Aguilar, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of stinging

Verb

Getting up from their seats backstage at Bear Shadow, Pandolfi and Falco head over to meet up with the other three Dusters who are plucking a few notes on their instruments under a large maple tree behind the stage.

— Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2026
Upending global trade, plucking a dictator out of Caracas, escalating to full-on war with Iran, shredding alliances, courting despots — the major twists and turns of this administration never end.

— Kate Andrews, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of plucking

Verb

That urgency has marked Holden’s prolific output—especially the thrilling first installment of his Supreme Magnetic series in 2025 and 2022’s Joe Frog—as the Harlem rapper uses his street-hustling past to paint an autobiographical portrait.

— Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
The 30-second teaser sees Jackson hustling around town, making money and recruiting his team of crooks.

— Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of hustling

Verb

The basic set-up, for years, was just a comic ripping off a joke and performing it on stage; the infamous mid-2000s Comedy Store stand-off between Joe Rogan and alleged joke thief Carlos Mencia is one of the most famous examples.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
More telling is the Gators generated just six runs of at least 10 yards during back-to-back losses after ripping off 13 of them during two SEC wins.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of ripping off

Verb

The day rewards curiosity more than sticking stubbornly to the original plan.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
The priority the remainder of the year must be personnel evaluation, so sticking a full 17 games with Austin Jackson - who seems unlikely to be back next season - would be denying the front office and coaching staff a chance to see other players.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of sticking

Verb

The automaker just cut the high end of its forecast and saw its share price drop, even while beating expectations for the quarter.

— Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
The Dodgers-Yankees series lasted five games, and the Dodgers beat up on the Yankees when the Yankees weren’t beating themselves.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of beating

Browse Nearby Words

shaking a leg

shaking down

shaking (off)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Shaking down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaking%20down. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of shaking down

verb

Example Sentences

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