as in to shock
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 shake up
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 Jan. 2026
Fogliato, who has shaken up the leadership team with new hires, knew there were challenges and saw the company getting smaller and more targeted.
—Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
Brian Womack, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
And many of its initiatives will be led by Amazon’s AI leadership team, which recently underwent a shake-up.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake up
Verb
In less than a year, Kennedy has bulldozed vaccine policy precedent and shaken up government personnel.
—Noun
That shake-up was on display within days of starting.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake up
Verb
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An injury to Jordan Cox, who had been due to keep wicket, saw a reshuffle and a decision that shocked everyone.—
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On Tuesday night, the football program was shocked to see on social media that Williams had announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal.—
Noun
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The head of India’s biggest quick commerce player says the sector is hurtling toward a shakeout as rivals’ cash dries up, but that his startup will thrive — and continue its expansion.—
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Bloomberg | Getty Images Private equity fund managers are bracing for a wave of consolidation as investors demand higher returns and stronger governance, forcing a shakeout in an overcrowded industry, several industry veterans said at a high-level finance summit in Hong Kong on Tuesday.—
Verb
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Of all the recent poster boys for appalling misbehavior by the State Police, Michael Proctor would of course rank number one.—
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Russia and China claim to be appalled, too, but to use a classic diplomatic expression, the leaders in Beijing and Moscow should be invited, with all due respect, to shut their traps.—
Noun
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While no report was available for October because of the federal government shutdown, the November data from the TWC suggests that ― after roaring for years ― Texas’ economic growth has slowed.—
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Staffers, who say they have been reassigned to nearby stores during the shutdown and demolition, confirmed the closing.—
Verb
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So we were stunned to read about how Sean Harden, chair of the Chicago Board of Education as duly appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, reportedly had launched two internal investigations into how that board’s super-secret business got into the hands of reporters.—
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Others were stunned by individual line items.—
Noun
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Set to host the Olympic and Paralympic athletics, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies, the stadium is due to be built in the 158-acre Victoria Park, just north of central Brisbane.—
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His 2024 tape showed elite ball skills with fluid athleticism and explosive closing speed.—
Cite this Entry
“Shake up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20up. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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