upheaval
noun
up·heav·al
ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl 
(ˌ)ə-ˈpē-
1
: the action or an instance of upheaving especially of part of the earth's crust
2
: extreme agitation or disorder : radical change
a period of social upheaval
also
: an instance of this
one of human history's greatest upheavals
Examples of upheaval in a Sentence
The civil rights movement marked a period of social upheaval in the U.S.
the emotional upheaval of divorce
a period of cultural and social upheavals
The island was created by an upheaval of the ocean floor.
The lake was formed by geologic upheaval.
Recent Examples on the Web
And after a decline in attendance that may be an indication of a fan base fatigued by prices, a lack of marquee nonconference games, high roster turnover and the general upheaval in college athletics.
—
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
Critics say the leadership upheaval signals unusual instability and raises concerns about whether agencies have sufficient scientific expertise to respond effectively to public health emergencies.
—Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
This year marks festival director Thierry Fremaux’s 25th edition at the helm, a tenure during which Cannes has weathered streaming wars, a pandemic and political upheaval while fiercely defending its status as cinema’s ultimate global stage.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 12 May 2026
The code lasted through two world wars, the upheaval of the 1960s, the disillusionment of Watergate, and even the rise of search engines and SparkNotes.
—Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
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Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
Critics say the leadership upheaval signals unusual instability and raises concerns about whether agencies have sufficient scientific expertise to respond effectively to public health emergencies.
—Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
This year marks festival director Thierry Fremaux’s 25th edition at the helm, a tenure during which Cannes has weathered streaming wars, a pandemic and political upheaval while fiercely defending its status as cinema’s ultimate global stage.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 12 May 2026
The code lasted through two world wars, the upheaval of the 1960s, the disillusionment of Watergate, and even the rise of search engines and SparkNotes.
—Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
Cite this Entry
“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upheaval. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upheaval
noun
up·heav·al
ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl
(ˌ)ə-ˈpē-
1
: the action or an instance of heaving or lifting up from beneath especially of part of the earth's crust
2
: an instance of violent disorder or change
emotional upheaval
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