as in upset
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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 shook-up
Scott Phillips, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Agents Get Their Shut-Eye Before COVID shook up the indie film business, all-night bidding wars were a staple of Sundance.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
The scandal shook up elections statewide, with Republican groups spending millions on a flurry of ads attacking Jones, NBC News reported.
—Kevin Breuninger,dan Mangan, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
The shooting also shook up the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, which underwent a flurry of personnel and policy changes.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
The Cleveland Browns shook up the NFL landscape with their headline-making trade of Joe Flacco to the 2-3 Cincinnati Bengals.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
As one of the original Try Guys members, Fulmer shook up the group and the fanbase when his affair was unearthed.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Paltrow shook up the look with her bottoms, trading traditional slacks for a pair of belted capris that fell just below the knee.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2025
Kraft shook up his campaign by parting with his top advisers Will Keyser and Eileen O’Connor earlier this week.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
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
Agents Get Their Shut-Eye Before COVID shook up the indie film business, all-night bidding wars were a staple of Sundance.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
The scandal shook up elections statewide, with Republican groups spending millions on a flurry of ads attacking Jones, NBC News reported.
—Kevin Breuninger,dan Mangan, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
The shooting also shook up the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, which underwent a flurry of personnel and policy changes.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
The Cleveland Browns shook up the NFL landscape with their headline-making trade of Joe Flacco to the 2-3 Cincinnati Bengals.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
As one of the original Try Guys members, Fulmer shook up the group and the fanbase when his affair was unearthed.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Paltrow shook up the look with her bottoms, trading traditional slacks for a pair of belted capris that fell just below the knee.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2025
Kraft shook up his campaign by parting with his top advisers Will Keyser and Eileen O’Connor earlier this week.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shook-up
Adjective
-
SpaceX said on its launch page that residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties might experience one or more sonic booms during the launch, a phenomenon that has long upset residents and raised concerns about the booms’ effect on nearby endangered species.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Littler added that his girlfriend would often get upset when her father talked about owning a gun.—
Saul Pink,
San Antonio Express-News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Continue reading … POLITICS 'CIVICS LESSON’ — Republican shocked after anti-ICE sheriff stumped by basic government question.—
,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Many would be shocked to realize that the NFL’s decision to feature Bad Bunny was very unlikely motivated by politics.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has launched an investigation into Concierge Apartments, a troubled Rocky Hill complex where 200 units were condemned Friday by town officials.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Nanjiani got serious about the importance of directors making movies in a troubled world before dropping one more zinger.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
Adjective
-
Loong & French should feel pretty aggrieved here, having been robbed of the opportunity to play further into the draw.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Those who left early will be feeling more aggrieved, more angsty, and more concerned than those who stayed to the end.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The opportunity wasn’t lost on Shula, the rock-solid legend who sat afterward at his locker, openly crying, in a manner that stunned Dolphins personnel.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Alphabet’s massive increase in AI infrastructure spending sets a new high water mark just one week after Meta stunned the Street by announcing plans to nearly double its capex to between $115 billion and $135 billion this year.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Three days later, her distraught children pleaded for the 84-year-old’s safe return, confirming that law enforcement believe Nancy was abducted against her will and could be alive.—
Dan Reilly,
Vulture,
6 Feb. 2026
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But the show’s standout is Sophia Lillis, whose distraught, morally inflamed Riley is the play’s most original figure.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Of course, no guest wants to dine at the home of a host whose off-putting etiquette makes everyone feel ill at ease either.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Both were a byword, too, for male beauty, fully alive to the almost laughable impact of their handsomeness, yet ill at ease, now and then, with their perches on the pedestal.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shook-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shook-up. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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