as in appalling
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 shaking up
Global hedge funds, pressured by the conflict in Iran, are shaking up their trading strategies.
—
J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
At the same time, Apple is shaking up the iPhone’s yearly release schedule.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
That was the 1960s, and Fernandes says the arts have since settled into a kind of routine that needs shaking up.
—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
The Rockies certainly need shaking up.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
Those changes are shaking up Centene’s core businesses.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
The shooting sent the two to the hospital, shaking up the community residing near the center.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
The first is that, as noted, Vancouver behaved with a clear and consistent direction in cleaning out veteran players, clearing the books and shaking up a locker room mix that has consistently underachieved this decade.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Producer Fortes, founder of Fiascocrafts, also emphasizes the goal of shaking up conventions through a female lens.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 Mar. 2026
J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
At the same time, Apple is shaking up the iPhone’s yearly release schedule.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
That was the 1960s, and Fernandes says the arts have since settled into a kind of routine that needs shaking up.
—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
The Rockies certainly need shaking up.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2026
Those changes are shaking up Centene’s core businesses.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
The shooting sent the two to the hospital, shaking up the community residing near the center.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
The first is that, as noted, Vancouver behaved with a clear and consistent direction in cleaning out veteran players, clearing the books and shaking up a locker room mix that has consistently underachieved this decade.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Producer Fortes, founder of Fiascocrafts, also emphasizes the goal of shaking up conventions through a female lens.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaking up
Verb
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Of all the recent poster boys for appalling misbehavior by the State Police, Michael Proctor would of course rank number one.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Truly appalling friend counsel here from Mindy.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Dozens of shocking examples Kim Stone, lobbyist for the California District Attorneys Association, agreed that only a small percentage of people given diversion go on to commit violent crimes.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
12 Apr. 2026
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Spieth, nine holes away from another wire-to-wire victory, throws it away with a collapse around Amen Corner that is shocking even by Augusta National standards.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaking%20up. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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