as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
the rumor is that he started his career shaking people down as an enforcer for the mob
Synonyms & Similar Words
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1
as in bunk
Related Words
2
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shake down
Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Most years, the BAFTA nominations are a crucial insight for prognosticators into how Oscar nominations will shake down.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Notably, these shakedown attempts come more than 15 years after Michael’s death, thus carrying no risk of being sued for defamation.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Verb
The laps were completed as part of a promotional filming day, serving the dual purpose of gathering footage of the car on track, and the opportunity to shake down the car to ensure all systems are working as expected in preparation for official pre-season testing.
—Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Most years, the BAFTA nominations are a crucial insight for prognosticators into how Oscar nominations will shake down.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
The team had its initial shakedown at Silverstone in January, then participated in F1’s official preseason testing in Barcelona and Bahrain.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Notably, these shakedown attempts come more than 15 years after Michael’s death, thus carrying no risk of being sued for defamation.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake down
Verb
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported on the cheating epidemic that has overtaken schools and universities as students outsource their assignments to a chat bot.—
Peter Smagorinsky,
AJC.com,
30 Mar. 2026
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An angler competing in a walleye derby on Saskatchewan’s Montreal Lake was kicked out of the ice-fishing tournament Saturday after being accused of cheating.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Participants can also select traditional, all-male or all-female bunk-style cabins or upgrade to their own private room or cabin.—
Robin Roenker,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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Ramos was found unresponsive in his bunk by Adelanto security staff on March 25.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Some cities may cancel their tests if storms are nearby.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Ames said her family left their home right after the tests and lived with extended family for two months while their house was remediated.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Drones take on expanding roles across modern battlefields Uncrewed systems are playing a growing role in modern warfare, handling missions from reconnaissance and artillery spotting to precision strikes.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Mar. 2026
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That was the largest naval-convoy endeavor since the Second World War, and included aircraft carriers and reconnaissance planes.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Skiers and snowboarders trying to squeeze the last bits of winter fun from Colorado‘s meager snowpack will have one less option after this week, with Vail Resort set to close 11 days sooner than planned.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
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The disruption has not only sent fuel prices soaring, but has squeezed supplies of petrochemicals needed to make everyday items like shoes, clothing and plastic bags.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Chock-full of classic summer camp activities, from dodgeball, archery and kickball to kayaking, swimming, crafting and more, the 400-acre camp allows guests to set their own adventure level — from high-adrenaline fun in the sun to hammock-time chill.—
Robin Roenker,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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The outdoor area shines with a small pool, roof deck, and hammock.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Architectural Digest,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Their flight plan for Friday also included rehearsals of basic medical procedures — including chest compressions and methods to clear airway obstructions — to help prepare future Orion crews for possible emergencies in deep space.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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During rehearsals, McCormack welcomed all professional feedback to reach the exacting standards of the realistic medical show, especially when using instruments such as a cranial drill.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Her journey takes her to the soirées of Regency London and the peaks and vales of the Lake District, all in search of independence, self-love and reinvention.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
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House Speaker Mike Johnson also expressed concerns with the Justice Department's tracking of lawmakers' search history of the unredacted files.—
Alexandra Hutzler,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shake down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20down. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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