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
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 shake up
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
1 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
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Trump has made no secret of his desire for a shake-up of Warner Bros.
—
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Verb
While Mickey Moniak and Freddy Peralta and Kris Bubic are useful pieces to move, these squads don’t really have the rosters to shake up the deadline by embracing a more aggressive sale.
—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
1 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
Your usual preferences could use a little shake-up, so book the class, plan the trip and consider the option that feels less predictable.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Trump has made no secret of his desire for a shake-up of Warner Bros.
—
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake up
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.
-
The exact same thing happened back in 2018 when Hirving Lozano shocked Germany.
Noun
-
Still, for all the familiarity and the sturdy nature of the advance, some macro shifts and internal stirrings are worthy of some attention, especially as global tech stocks face a bit of a shakeout overnight Tuesday .
-
The fintechs that came through the shakeout in good shape had already built compliance like a product, instead of bolting it on later.
Verb
-
Seated beside Rosado on Wednesday, Lopez appeared appalled at what had transpired in recent weeks.
-
Democratic lawmakers were predictably appalled by Pulte’s selection.
Noun
-
By 1776, that grievance was likely aimed at Britain’s punitive wartime shutdowns of Colonial commerce.
-
Meanwhile, Democrats insisted on extending the premium tax credits as part of a bill to end the shutdown, warning that their expiration could be detrimental for millions of American families.
Verb
-
The unusual attack Monday night stunned the elite principality on the Mediterranean Coast.
-
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.
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.
-
With the peloton boasting fresh legs, expect major fireworks in the closing kilometres.
Cite this Entry
“Shake up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20up. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
