as in appalling
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 shaking up
The Padres have won all five meetings so far with the Mariners but are shaking up the lineup for the series finale in hopes of getting their big bats clicking.
—
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2026
Now, construction has begun on a hyperscale AI data center in the city to the tune of $150 billion and 800 megawatts, shaking up Independence’s political and economic landscape in the process.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026
Despite being the world’s skinniest skyscraper, this New York tower is still shaking up midtown Manhattan in a big way.
—Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 11 May 2026
By evening, disruptive Uranus enters your 2nd House of Resources, shaking up income, spending, and self worth.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
This season of Rock the Block is shaking up its usual nail-biting, competition format by pairing HGTV stars with celebrities who are equally passionate about design.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Global hedge funds, pressured by the conflict in Iran, are shaking up their trading strategies.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
At the same time, Apple is shaking up the iPhone’s yearly release schedule.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
That was the 1960s, and Fernandes says the arts have since settled into a kind of routine that needs shaking up.
—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2026
Now, construction has begun on a hyperscale AI data center in the city to the tune of $150 billion and 800 megawatts, shaking up Independence’s political and economic landscape in the process.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026
Despite being the world’s skinniest skyscraper, this New York tower is still shaking up midtown Manhattan in a big way.
—Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 11 May 2026
By evening, disruptive Uranus enters your 2nd House of Resources, shaking up income, spending, and self worth.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
This season of Rock the Block is shaking up its usual nail-biting, competition format by pairing HGTV stars with celebrities who are equally passionate about design.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Global hedge funds, pressured by the conflict in Iran, are shaking up their trading strategies.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
At the same time, Apple is shaking up the iPhone’s yearly release schedule.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
That was the 1960s, and Fernandes says the arts have since settled into a kind of routine that needs shaking up.
—Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaking up
Verb
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The young Forster recoiled from the school’s culture of authoritarianism and militaristic chauvinism, which may have found expression in the students’ often appalling attitudes toward their own mothers.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Of all the recent poster boys for appalling misbehavior by the State Police, Michael Proctor would of course rank number one.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the past several years, unspent funds from DOC vacancies have been gobbled up by shocking overtime costs that exceed $30 million monthly.—
Jason Rodriguez,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
-
Alexander pinned Slater for the win, completely shocking the fans in Sacramento, California.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaking up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaking%20up. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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