as in to shock
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 shake up
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 11 Apr. 2025
Toy Story saw a happy-go-lucky cowboy figurine named Woody (Tom Hanks) have his world shaken up when his owner Andy (John Morris) received a cool, brand new action figure by the name of Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen).
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Patricia Zengerle, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
The recent shake-up in the market amid uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s tariffs has provided an attractive buying opportunity for Chevron , according to Matt Maley of Miller Tabak.
—Sean Conlon, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Verb
The trade war between the world’s two largest economies has shaken up trade in recent days, leading to an unstable market, worries about the impact on U.S. consumers and questions around a possible recession.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 11 Apr. 2025
Toy Story saw a happy-go-lucky cowboy figurine named Woody (Tom Hanks) have his world shaken up when his owner Andy (John Morris) received a cool, brand new action figure by the name of Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen).
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
Trump also pushed out five other admirals and generals in an unprecedented shake-up of U.S. military leadership.
—Patricia Zengerle, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
The recent shake-up in the market amid uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s tariffs has provided an attractive buying opportunity for Chevron , according to Matt Maley of Miller Tabak.
—Sean Conlon, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake up
Verb
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The manhunt The slaying of Pascal shocked in the Upper Florida Keys community, which, while certainly not immune from crime, rarely experiences brutal murders.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2025
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One father, a lawyer who teaches constitutional law, was shocked by the university’s roughshod treatment of his son and students and the ease with which administrators disregarded their rights.—
Wynn Smiley,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In reality, the shakeout led to hundreds of companies falling by the wayside, but the strongest companies—Google and Amazon among them—really thrived.—
Steve Case,
Time,
1 Apr. 2025
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With so much uncertainty looming over the EV charging industry — plus the shakeout that typically occurs among nascent tech industries — there’s bound to be consolidation this year.—
Bob Woods,
CNBC,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Meta will point to an increase in traffic to Instagram and Facebook during TikTok's brief shutdown in the United States in January as evidence of competition, according to court records.—
Jody Godoy,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
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What To Know The shutdown announcement came hours after Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on federal authorities to revoke New York Helicopter Tours' operating permits.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Still, there is plenty here that should appall both Democrats and Republicans.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
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Dismay or appall you, sure, but never surprise you.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This looked like the player who two-putted every green in the final round at St. Andrews, who missed two short putts in the closing stretch at Pinehurst No. 2 last summer to watch Bryson DeChambeau hoist that U.S. Open trophy.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
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As of April 14, however, closing sales were ongoing.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Broadus stunned in a plush pink coat and matching fedora.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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In February 2013, Benedict stunned the Catholic world by becoming the first pope in six centuries to retire.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shake up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20up. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
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