shake up 1 of 2

verb

Definition of shake upnext
as in to shock
to cause an unpleasant surprise for the news that we had failed the auto inspection shook us up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shake-up

2 of 2

noun

as in shakeout

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 shake up
Verb
Extreme heat is set to significantly affect swallowing speed, completely shaking up the oddsmakers' lines. — Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026 Anthropic’s Claude comes for the scientists First AI titan Anthropic shook up the computer programming industry with Claude Code. — Sarah Todd, STAT, 1 July 2026
Noun
Buckhead fine dining restaurant Aria has hired a new executive chef in another shake-up among Atlanta’s elite kitchens this year. — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 9 June 2026 However, this shake-up isn’t happening in isolation, and there are also changes happening to how corporation tax and dividend tax will be applied. — Kate Hayward, Forbes.com, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shake up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake up
  1. shock
  2. shakeout
  3. appall
  4. shutdown
  5. stun
  6. closing
Verb
  • The attack shocked Monaco, a coastal playground for the rich and famous known for its tax-friendly incentives, royal family and Formula 1 Grand Prix.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • The exact same thing happened back in 2018 when Hirving Lozano shocked Germany.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of shock
Noun
  • Citadel’s tactical trading fund also weathered a late-June shakeout in quantitative investing.
    — Yun Li, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • The fintechs that came through the shakeout in good shape had already built compliance like a product, instead of bolting it on later.
    — Agustín Guerra, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Definition of shakeout
Verb
  • The other Israelites are appalled by this heinous action and go to war against the Benjaminites, who are nearly destroyed before an eventual reconciliation (Judges 20–21).
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
  • My friend told me some private information about him that appalled me.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
Definition of appall
Noun
  • May started making her products during the COVID shutdown, before deciding to launch it into a side business.
    — Fatima Corona, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
  • The Gaviota shutdown comes as other California rest areas are also temporarily unavailable.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of shutdown
Verb
  • The unusual attack Monday night stunned the elite principality on the Mediterranean Coast.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • The South American side stunned four-time world champions Germany 4-3 on penalties after the teams were tied 1-1 following extra time on Monday, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 30 June 2026
Definition of stun
Noun
  • In a note on Tuesday, analysts reaffirmed their year-end price target of 7,100 for the broad market index, representing a 5% drop from the week’s closing level.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 July 2026
  • With the peloton boasting fresh legs, expect major fireworks in the closing kilometres.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of closing

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shakes up
shake up
shake-up
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Cite this Entry

“Shake up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20up. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shake up

Nglish: Translation of shake up for Spanish Speakers

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