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
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
Merck is shaking up the leadership of its main pharmaceutical unit as the drugmaker braces for sales pressure later this decade, The Wall Street Journal reports.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 23 Feb. 2026
Fierce union backlash has derailed previous government attempts at shaking up Argentina’s archaic labor code, widely seen as among the most costly to companies in Latin America.
—Isabel Debre, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Democrats are shaking up their campaign against the GOP’s 2025 tax cuts.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 18 Feb. 2026
But, squeezed by the cost of things from rent to beef, others are shaking up their habit.
—Matt Sedensky, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
But faculty fear the cuts will gut resources key to UT’s mission — teaching and research — while further shaking up the university’s organization at a time leadership is undergoing major changes.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
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
Merck is shaking up the leadership of its main pharmaceutical unit as the drugmaker braces for sales pressure later this decade, The Wall Street Journal reports.
—Ed Silverman, STAT, 23 Feb. 2026
Fierce union backlash has derailed previous government attempts at shaking up Argentina’s archaic labor code, widely seen as among the most costly to companies in Latin America.
—Isabel Debre, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Democrats are shaking up their campaign against the GOP’s 2025 tax cuts.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 18 Feb. 2026
But, squeezed by the cost of things from rent to beef, others are shaking up their habit.
—Matt Sedensky, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
But faculty fear the cuts will gut resources key to UT’s mission — teaching and research — while further shaking up the university’s organization at a time leadership is undergoing major changes.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 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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Siena was in the driver’s seat to join that rare group, shocking Duke with a 43-32 lead at halftime.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
19 Mar. 2026
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But Mark isn’t taking any more chances with the Sequids, and kills their leader, shocking his fellow heroes.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaking%20up. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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