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
Scott Phillips, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Visit our website But of biggest consequence would be a shake up of how ObamaCare subsidies are distributed.
—Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
That shake-up was on display within days of starting.
—Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Verb
Nothing can top last season’s unforgettable Luka Dončić-for-Anthony Davis trade that shook up the NBA landscape.
—Scott Phillips, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Visit our website But of biggest consequence would be a shake up of how ObamaCare subsidies are distributed.
—Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
For some teams, that involves a shake-up in the coaching staff and front office.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
That shake-up was on display within days of starting.
—Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake up
Verb
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Fennell likes to shock, and her newest film has successfully provoked many strong reactions.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
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Nancy Guthrie’s abduction from her home in the upscale Catalina Foothills north of Tucson, Arizona, shocked the nation.—
Michael Ruiz , Adriana James-Rodil,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The shakeout in luxury retail that has claimed the parent company of Saks 5th Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus is about to hit shoppers.—
Emily Lorsch,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
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Private equity is going through a shakeout.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But just as those supporters should not be blamed for having mixed feelings, so Spurs staff would be entirely justified in feeling bemused, frustrated and appalled by any suggestion that fans do not want to get a result, just as Postecoglou was two years ago.—
Dan Kilpatrick,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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The unconscionable treatment of maids in Alma’s era finds uncomfortable parallels in the 1980s, when Angelika is both appalled and intrigued by the leering looks of her uncle Uwe (Konstantin Lindhorst).—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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So with official jobs data due out on Wednesday, delayed by several days because of the brief partial government shutdown, analysts say stocks could go even lower on bad news — or even on news that looks too good.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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Congressional debate over whether to extend more generous subsidies made available under the Biden administration led to the longest-ever government shutdown and focused public attention on rising health care costs and the affordability issue.—
Julie Appleby,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The four-time overall World Cup champion stunned everyone by being a contender almost immediately.—
ANDREW DAMPF,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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The Monégasque team, led by Valentin Vacherot, stunned Bublik and Alexander Shevchenko in a 3-1 win, with Hugo Nys and Romain Arneodo triumphing over Bublik and Beibit Zhukayev in a nail-biting doubles rubber.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Despite parents’ pleas to the group leading the initiative, the special committee on Tuesday did not sign off on any plan to entirely avoid closing campuses.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Saks Global, in its initial round of luxury store closings in bankruptcy, said on Tuesday that eight Saks Fifth Avenue’s stores would also go dark around April.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shake up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20up. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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