as in appalling
to cause an unpleasant surprise for
the news that we had failed the auto inspection shook us up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 up
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
The Aquarius New Moon Solar Eclipse later in the month activates your partnership sector and squares Uranus in Taurus, which has been shaking up your home, family, and emotional foundation for years.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
In The Dressmaker, for example, World War II is just something that’s happening, shaking up a world of repression and poverty.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
He's now threatened tariffs on eight NATO allies who have expressed their opposition to the idea, and that is shaking up the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week.
—NPR, 21 Jan. 2026
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
The Aquarius New Moon Solar Eclipse later in the month activates your partnership sector and squares Uranus in Taurus, which has been shaking up your home, family, and emotional foundation for years.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
In The Dressmaker, for example, World War II is just something that’s happening, shaking up a world of repression and poverty.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
He's now threatened tariffs on eight NATO allies who have expressed their opposition to the idea, and that is shaking up the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week.
—NPR, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaking up
Verb
-
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
-
Fast-forward 58 games, and not shocking to me, Joe was right.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Sophie is pacing in her room when Violet comes in, shocking me and Sophie both.—
Christina Grace Tucker,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaking%20up. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
