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as in to deceive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shanghai
They’re shanghaied by Witchiepoo (Billie Hayes), basically evil but also adorable, to Living Island — the witch wants Freddy — where trees walk and objects talk and the mayor is the title character, a friendly dragon.
—
Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2023
Some historians believe, as The Oregonian/OregonLive has reported, that the tunnels weren’t actually used to shanghai -- that is, abduct men and force them to join a ship’s crew.
—oregonlive, 26 Mar. 2020
The musical comedy is filled with zany pirates, zombie ships, mermaids and the plot revolves around a bumbling actor and his crew getting shanghaied by the terror of the high seas.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 July 2019
To shanghai your wife into a mental health intervention would be a mistake.
—Y Jeanne Phillips, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Feb. 2018
That prompts the secretly protective Madea to shanghai Joe and the equally outrageous old-timers Hattie (Patrice Lovely) and Bam (Cassi Davis) for a trip to the lake to bring Tiffany back.
—Mike Scott, NOLA.com, 20 Oct. 2017
The ways in which our attention gets shanghaied by these companies makes us less good as citizens.
—Isaac Chotiner, Slate Magazine, 5 Oct. 2017
The idea of a summertime art festival has been shanghaied by the nonprofit Art Shanty Project.
—Bob Shaw, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2017
Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2023
Some historians believe, as The Oregonian/OregonLive has reported, that the tunnels weren’t actually used to shanghai -- that is, abduct men and force them to join a ship’s crew.
—oregonlive, 26 Mar. 2020
The musical comedy is filled with zany pirates, zombie ships, mermaids and the plot revolves around a bumbling actor and his crew getting shanghaied by the terror of the high seas.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 July 2019
To shanghai your wife into a mental health intervention would be a mistake.
—Y Jeanne Phillips, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Feb. 2018
That prompts the secretly protective Madea to shanghai Joe and the equally outrageous old-timers Hattie (Patrice Lovely) and Bam (Cassi Davis) for a trip to the lake to bring Tiffany back.
—Mike Scott, NOLA.com, 20 Oct. 2017
The ways in which our attention gets shanghaied by these companies makes us less good as citizens.
—Isaac Chotiner, Slate Magazine, 5 Oct. 2017
The idea of a summertime art festival has been shanghaied by the nonprofit Art Shanty Project.
—Bob Shaw, Twin Cities, 6 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shanghai
Verb
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This collection was taken by National Park Service photographers, who have captured federal public lands and wild critters across the Western U.S.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
6 June 2025
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The police video, captured on the officer’s body camera, shows that Elias then turned to his right and started running toward the officer.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Even children who are online only in small doses likely see false or inaccurate information that might deceive them.—
Evan Orticio,
Scientific American,
2 June 2025
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In November, Dove pleaded guilty in Gaston County to a dozen felony charges related to illegally accessing police computer systems and helping someone deceive a polygraph test, The Gaston Gazette reported.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Chloe Pirrie in Dept. Q Justin Downing—Netflix Merritt was kidnapped and held within a hyperbaric chamber in remote Scotland for four years, and was long presumed dead before DCI Morck reopened the case.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
29 May 2025
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The remaining five defendants are charged with conspiring in South Florida to kidnap or kill Haiti’s leader and related charges, including recruiting the Colombian commandos.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2025
Verb
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In April, the comedian shared that he had been tricked by someone pretending to be the group’s manager while trying to arrange a bit involving actor Richard Kind and a pet tortoise.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
29 May 2025
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Attackers often trick users into unknowingly running malware this way. 4.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
29 May 2025
Verb
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Harrison impressed in that performance, submitting former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm by submission in the second round at UFC 400.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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With a home this special, of course, the primary suite — with its two levels and four rooms — would also be designed to impress.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
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So her side was like snowing, and then my side was blue sky.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
27 May 2025
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She was snowed into her village and couldn't reach a hospital.—
Khwaga Ghani,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In the wake of the incident, investigators seized the boat believed to have struck Ella following a dayslong search, the FWC said.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
3 June 2025
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Search warrants would be conducted from June 2-6 in Lagos, Portugal, and any evidence seized is set to be handed over to Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Reuters reported, citing Portuguese police.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
Verb
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President Donald Trump’s massive bill package, dubbed the ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ contains a proposal that could significantly waylay a burgeoning movement to regulate artificial intelligence on the state level.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
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If you’re waylaid by a technical snag, email the smart people at [email protected] for help.—
Melissa Clark,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shanghai.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shanghai. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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