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
also
: an instance of this
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
Some students did not attend online classes and some schools dropped attendance expectations because of the upheaval, teachers and school leaders have told USA TODAY.
—
Kayla Jimenez, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Thomas Samson | Afp | Getty Images Heading into another vote of confidence next week, France now unexpectedly finds itself unfavorably compared to Italy, a country previously renowned for political upheaval and economic frailty.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025
The upheaval in the economics of college sports, particularly with star athletes now making millions in above-board pay, has bred a new type of potential conflict, one with a more direct line between money donated to universities and the salaries paid to future NFL players.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The upheaval has made the VA hospitals a less-than-appealing place to work, according to Siebers.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
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Kayla Jimenez, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Thomas Samson | Afp | Getty Images Heading into another vote of confidence next week, France now unexpectedly finds itself unfavorably compared to Italy, a country previously renowned for political upheaval and economic frailty.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025
The upheaval in the economics of college sports, particularly with star athletes now making millions in above-board pay, has bred a new type of potential conflict, one with a more direct line between money donated to universities and the salaries paid to future NFL players.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The upheaval has made the VA hospitals a less-than-appealing place to work, according to Siebers.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
Cite this Entry
“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upheaval. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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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