as in cheated
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
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Recent Examples of shaken down
Law firms are shaken down into submission.
—
Christopher Bouzy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Christopher Bouzy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaken down
Verb
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The reportedly yearlong relationship is notable in that, after their split in 2015, Stocking posted and deleted tweets saying the basketball player cheated, per The New York Post.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
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This is the same team that cheated and got caught how many times, going back to Bill Belichick and golden boy Tom Brady (Deflategate)?—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Many Americans feel financially squeezed — over half say their finances are worsening, according to a recent Gallup poll, the highest since 2001.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
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And so there’s going to be times where we’re squeezed and punched.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Discovery and inspiration await in Casablanca, where leafy boulevards are lined by a diverse blend of architectural styles and lively markets are filled with treasures plucked from old villas and handcrafted by artisans.—
Liza Foreman,
Architectural Digest,
30 Apr. 2026
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The Orion capsule will be returned to NASA's Kennedy Space Center for additional study following the mission — but before it was plucked from the ocean, the divers managed to capture images of the capsule and its heat shield underwater.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Nuggets have lost plenty of playoff games the past two springs, but few have stung like this.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
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Meyer acknowledged the logic behind preparing Nick Bosa for the NFL Draft but admitted the choice still stung as the Buckeyes chased a title.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the Stars are not going to beat the Wild on power plays alone.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Nate is brutally beaten, thrown against the railing of his staircase, and dragged across the floor.—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The tornado ripped off roofs, flattened trees and toppled gravestones at the Belton Cemetery.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
25 Apr. 2026
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Boerkircher, playing at Nebraska, bullied Hunter for more than 15 yards before Hunter ripped off his helmet.—
Mark Long,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With Venus in Gemini aligning with Pluto in Aquarius, honest conversations help shift situations that have been stuck.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
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But as OutKick’s Joe Kinsey noted, the platform would often combine WNBA and NFL games, leaving subscribers stuck watching both.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The ancestors demonstrate to the future the work that is yet to be done.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
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Hathaway’s turn is unlike anything else she’s ever done, stripped of her usual performance style while playing a siloed Über-celeb lacking the communication tools of a normal person.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaken down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaken%20down. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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