as in shocked
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 shaken up
Parts of its product line also get periodically shaken up, with seasonal finds and other favorites being introduced or withdrawn, but customers can count on the staples in our basket.
—
Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
The association said the deaths of the two young aviators have shaken up the industry.
—Philip Marcelo, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
However, the show has shaken up the format before, choosing to swap the order of Benedict and Colin’s stories.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
Longtime neighbors on Scotts Level Road are shaken up by what happened.
—Dennis Valera, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
During his pontificate, Francis had shaken up the College of Cardinals – the body that would appoint his successor.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026
This is the fourth straight season Colorado has shaken up the center depth chart just before the deadline.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2026
The North Texas economy is poised to get shaken up by new technology, a prominent economist says.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
As such, the ensemble gets shaken up with each new season.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
The association said the deaths of the two young aviators have shaken up the industry.
—Philip Marcelo, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
However, the show has shaken up the format before, choosing to swap the order of Benedict and Colin’s stories.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
Longtime neighbors on Scotts Level Road are shaken up by what happened.
—Dennis Valera, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
During his pontificate, Francis had shaken up the College of Cardinals – the body that would appoint his successor.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026
This is the fourth straight season Colorado has shaken up the center depth chart just before the deadline.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2026
The North Texas economy is poised to get shaken up by new technology, a prominent economist says.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
As such, the ensemble gets shaken up with each new season.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaken up
Verb
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The moon’s clash with Jupiter is a confidence booster, but don’t be shocked by a mid-day mood swing.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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While some celebrants have greeted these caricatures with cathartic jeers and sneers, others are shocked and outraged.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The marsupial escaped from Sunshine Farm in Necedah, a village about 90 miles away from Madison, on March 25, after being frightened by barking dogs, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Chesney had escaped from an outside enclosure on March 25, after being frightened by some unknown barking dogs.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Scared of monsters under the bed, scared to go to school, scared of everything — that was sweet, gentle Juliet.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Bossche says the encounter with the rattler hasn't scared her off the trails for good.—
Jasmine Viel,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaken up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaken%20up. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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