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Definitions

shook up

VERB
upset, unsettle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
disturb reorganize shock
WEAK
agitate break with past cause revolution churn up clean out clean up clear out liquidate make a clean sweep mix overturn purge remove rid stir up turn upside down
Antonyms
WEAK
calm placate soothe
shook-up
ADJECTIVE
addled
Synonyms
STRONGEST
befuddled bewildered
STRONG
gone rattled shaken shook thrown woolly
WEAK
balled up fouled-up mixed up out of it punchy slap-happy unglued woozy
Antonyms
STRONGEST
clear
WEAK
understanding
ADJECTIVE
anxious
Synonyms
STRONGEST
afraid apprehensive careful concerned distressed fearful fidgety jittery nervous restless scared uneasy uptight
WEAK
aghast antsy basket case bugged butterflies choked clutched disquieted disturbed dreading fretful hacked hyper in a state in a tizzy in suspense jumpy nervy overwrought shaking shaky shivery shot to pieces solicitous spooked strung-out sweating bullets taut troubled unglued unquiet watchful wired worried sick wreck
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bold brave calm collected composed confident cool courageous happy inattentive quiet unafraid unconcerned unfearful unworried
WEAK
assured content indifferent peaceful tranqil unwilling
ADJECTIVE
beside oneself
Synonyms
WEAK
agitated anxious berserk bothered carried away crazed delirious demented distraught distressed frantic frenetic hysterical insane mad out of one's mind out of one's wit overwrought rattled raving unbalanced unhinged upset very upset worked-up
ADJECTIVE
bewildered
Synonyms
STRONGEST
astonished awed baffled befuddled dazed mystified perplexed puzzled rattled shocked startled stunned surprised
STRONG
addled appalled astounded dazzled disconcerted dizzy dumbfounded flabbergasted floored flustered lost misled muddled reeling staggered stumped stupefied thrown
WEAK
agape aghast agog awe-struck bowled over dumbstruck flipped-out giddy in a dither punchy speechless taken aback thunderstruck uncertain unglued
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aware
STRONG
clear
WEAK
oriented understanding
ADJECTIVE
confused
Synonyms
STRONGEST
baffled befuddled bewildered dazed disorganized distracted muddled perplexed perturbed puzzled
STRONG
abashed addled discombobulated disconcerted flummoxed flustered gone misled nonplussed stumped thrown unscrewed unzipped woolly
WEAK
at a loss at sea at sixes and sevens come apart fouled-up glassy-eyed mixed up not with it out to lunch punch-drunk punchy screwy shot to pieces slaphappy spaced out taken aback thrown off balance unglued
Antonyms
STRONGEST
clear
STRONG
composed
WEAK
methodical ordered organized oriented separated systematic understanding
ADJECTIVE
disconcerted
Synonyms
STRONG
annoyed bewildered distracted disturbed embarrassed fazed flustered nonplussed perturbed rattled ruffled thrown troubled unsettled unzipped upset
WEAK
caught off balance come apart in botheration messed-up mixed-up out of countenance psyched-out spaced-out taken aback unglued
Antonyms
STRONG
happy settled
WEAK
calm composed concerted soothed unworried
ADJECTIVE
distraught
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitated anxious concerned confused crazy distressed frantic hysterical mad perturbed tormented troubled
WEAK
addled beside oneself bothered crazed discomposed distracted distrait flustered harassed in a panic like a chicken with its head cut off muddled nonplussed nuts out of one's mind overwrought rattled raving thrown unglued unscrewed unzipped wild worried
Antonyms
STRONGEST
balanced calm collected composed cool happy peaceful reasonable sane sound unconcerned untroubled unworried
WEAK
gladdened pleased
ADJECTIVE
distressed
Synonyms
STRONGEST
afflicted agitated anxious distraught jittery miffed perturbed shaky troubled
STRONG
bothered bugged concerned discombobulated distracted dragged exercised harassed peeved ripped saddened shook spooked tormented wired worried wrecked
WEAK
all torn up antsy basket case bummed out bundle of nerves cut up disconsolate distrait fidgety hyper in a stew in a tizzy inconsolable jumpy shot down strung-out unconsolable unglued up the wall uptight wretched
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm cool happy peaceful pleased untroubled
STRONG
unworried
WEAK
collected comforted glad joyful
ADJECTIVE
frantic
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitated angry delirious distraught frenetic frenzied furious hectic mad overwrought weird
STRONG
distracted distressed
WEAK
at wit's end berserk beside oneself corybantic crazy deranged excited flipped-out fraught freaked-out hot and bothered hot under the collar hyper in a stew in a tizzy insane out of control rabid raging raving unglued unscrewed unzipped violent weirded out wigged out wild wired worked-up zonkers
Antonyms
STRONGEST
balanced calm collected happy normal pleased sane
WEAK
composed docile peaceful tranquil
ADJECTIVE
madding
Synonyms
STRONGEST
frantic
WEAK
agitated angry at wit's end berserk beside oneself corybantic crazy delirious deranged distraught excited flipped-out fraught freaked-out frenetic frenzied furious hectic hot and bothered hot under the collar hyper hysterical in a stew in a tizzy insane mad out of control overwrought panic-stricken rabid raging raving unglued unscrewed unzipped violent weird weirded out wigged out wild wired worked-up zonkers
ADJECTIVE
muddle-headed
Synonyms
WEAK
abashed addled addlepated at a loss at sea at sixes and sevens baffled befuddled bewildered come apart confounded confusional dazed discombobulated disconcerted disorganized distracted flummoxed flustered fouled-up glassy-eyed gone misled mixed up muddled nonplussed not with it out to lunch perplexed perturbed punch-drunk punchy puzzled screwy shot to pieces slaphappy spaced out stumped taken aback thrown thrown off balance turbid unglued unscrewed unzipped
ADJECTIVE
puzzled
Synonyms
STRONGEST
baffled bewildered clueless doubtful mystified perplexed rattled
STRONG
bollixed discombobulated floored lost nonplussed shook stuck stumped thrown
WEAK
at a loss at sea come apart come unzipped dopey foggy fouled-up hung up in a fog loused up messed-up mind-blown mixed up mucked up screwed-up spaced out unglued without a clue
Antonyms
STRONGEST
clear
WEAK
aware certain cognizant sure
ADJECTIVE
shaken
Synonyms
STRONG
flustered jolted overcome rattled upset
ADJECTIVE
unsettled
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitated changeable changing complicated confused disturbed insecure perilous perturbed precarious rattled restless shaky shifting tense ticklish troubled uncertain uneasy unnerved unpredictable unstable
STRONG
busy flustered shaken thrown unbalanced wavering wobbling
WEAK
active antsy anxious changeful complex disorderly explosive fidgety fluid inconstant kinetic mobile mutable on edge restive unpeaceful unquiet unrestful unsteady variable
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm certain clear composed constant definite easy easygoing firm fixed laid-back safe secure sound stable steady strong sure unchanging
WEAK
calmed content decided happy settled
ADJECTIVE
upset
Synonyms
STRONG
agitated amazed blue capsized confused disconcerted dismayed disordered disquieted distressed dragged grieved hurt ill low muddled overturned rattled ruffled shocked sick spilled thrown toppled troubled tumbled unsettled unzipped worried
WEAK
all torn up antsy apprehensive broken up bummed out chaotic come apart frantic in disarray jittery jumpy overwrought psyched-out put out tipped over unglued upside-down
Antonyms
STRONG
calm clean collected comforted composed content decent happy healthy joyful methodical moral ordered organized pleased settled sound strong systematic untroubled unworried well
WEAK
undisturbed

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Before the iPhone, Apple shook up home computing with the 1984 Macintosh, whose icon-based interface and mouse made computing accessible beyond specialists -- and sparked a legendary rivalry between Jobs and Microsoft's Bill Gates.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

“Marty Supreme” star Chalamet seemed to be the strong favorite early on, but wins by other actors shook up the field.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

"They shook up an industry that needed shaking up. There's no doubt about that, and I will always give them credit for that," said beer writer Melissa Cole.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

Lee said markets tend to bottom on bad news, flagging the viral AI doom post from Citrini Research that shook up investors at the start of the week.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

“It did. And I’m on board. It’s about time someone shook up Dracula.”

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon