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
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaking down
Verb
-
Emotionally cheating may hurt more than physically cheating.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025 -
The next global square date will take place on January 1, 2036, or 01/01/2036, which feels a bit like cheating since both versions yield 1012036 (1006 x 1006).—
Margherita Bassi,
Popular Science,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While many traditional inner-thigh exercises focus solely on squeezing motions, more effective adductor training also incorporates movements in multiple planes and challenges the muscles to work as stabilizers rather than just prime movers.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The squeeze One way Californians cope with pricey housing is by squeezing more than the typical number of people into their living spaces.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
These pretty pink jellyfish are carnivorous and have stinging tentacles that can reach up to 70 feet long.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
25 Sep. 2025
-
On the other hand, Howard Stern had stinging comments today over Kimmel going dark, and joined the groundswell of subscribers cancelling Disney+.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The first challenge is to create a visually appealing monkey bread, which many in America will recognize as a circular loaf composed of smaller balls that can be easily torn off, much like monkeys plucking nits from one another.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
-
When not plucking away at a keyboard, Madison teaches yoga and mountain bikes with her two Australian shepherds, Cholla and Poppy, through Missoula's Rattlesnake Wilderness.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of hustling for one-day bookings, Patel engineered a system where one client often meant three to five events—maximizing return and loyalty.—
Sindhya Valloppillil,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Four astronauts returned to Earth after hustling to the International Space Station five months ago to relieve the stuck test pilots of Boeing’s Starliner.—
Jeremy Mikula,
NBC news,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Even when Osborne dips into country or wraps with a hint of reggae, its songs rip – if only in the sense of ripping off a Band-Aid.—
Joe Lynch,
Billboard,
19 Sep. 2025
-
On Tuesday, a Miami federal judge ordered Graham’s immediate surrender to the Bureau of Prisons after sentencing him to seven years for ripping off millions from his mother.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Fire it up with a Korean-style grill pan—its special grooves keep the meat from sticking and help drain grease.—
Irene Yoo
September 26,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
-
That means a lot of driving around in his beat-up van and sticking his nose in the business of people who would really just like to do their Late Stage Capitalism in private.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Brown climbed the ladder to haul in a pass over the middle from Madsen, beating his defender in the air acrobatically before smashing into the end zone turf for the catch and a 33-14 lead.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Pour the remaining milk mixture into egg mixture, beating to combine.—
Emily Teel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Sep. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Shaking down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaking%20down. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share