as in squeezes
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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Recent Examples of shakes down
Later, Tom pours vodka into a Phillies cup and watches birds flutter by at night while Robbie gets his guns ready and shakes down a trap house.
—
Grace Byron, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Grace Byron, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shakes down
Verb
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This liner then rapidly squeezes a magnetized target, creating the intense heat and pressure needed for fusion to occur, the same process that powers the sun.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Sep. 2025
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Keeping tires properly inflated not only extends their life but also squeezes more miles out of every charge—a win for the wallet and the planet.—
Melanie Marshall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Courtesy Heather Straughter Even 14 years later, the memory of it being asked still stings.—
Heather Straughter,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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The first mozzie of the evening stings my arm.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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There may be even greater reasons to put an ad that plucks the heartstrings in front of a broader crowd.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Creating and conserving optionality in application development consistently beats compression, regardless of industry.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Timing beats speed, precision beats power, your dad says.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That sticks closely to the recommendations of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025
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At one point during the show, one of the vampires sticks her neck into my show.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The only other shmup that looked this good on the Mega Drive was probably Ex-Ranza, known as Ranger-X abroad, but even that didn’t move at the pace Earthion does.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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In addition to higher rates and fewer terms, Rocket also charges closing costs, which Third Federal does not.—
Kelsey Neubauer,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shakes down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shakes%20down. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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