upset

¹up·set

verb \(ˌ)əp-ˈset\

up·setup·set·ting

Definition of UPSET

transitive verb

1

: to thicken and shorten (as a heated bar of iron) by hammering on the end : swage

2

: to force out of the usual upright, level, or proper position : overturn

3

a : to trouble mentally or emotionally : disturb the poise of <the news upset me> b : to throw into disorder c : invalidate d : to defeat unexpectedly <was upset in the primary>

4

: to cause a physical disorder in; specifically : to make somewhat ill <spicy food upsets my stomach>

intransitive verb

: to become overturned

— up·set·ter noun

— upset the apple cart

: to disturb or overturn a natural or stable order

Examples of UPSET

1. That remark you made really upset me.
2. Don't upset yourself over it.
3. It upsets him that he can do nothing to help.
4. A lot of people were upset by the court's decision.
5. It upsets me to think I might never see him again.
6. Spicy food upsets my stomach.

First Known Use of UPSET

1677

Related to UPSET

Synonyms: agitate, ail, alarm (also alarum), bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, hagride, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, disturb, weird out, worry

Antonyms: calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

Related Words: aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy (or chivvy), exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put off, put out, rile, vex; bedevil, haunt, plague; abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, jar, mortify, nonplus, rattle, shake up; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, unnerve

Near Antonyms: allay, alleviate, assuage; appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at discompose

Rhymes with UPSET

abet, aigrette, all wet, backset, baguette, banquette, barbette, barquette, barrette, beget, beset, blanquette, boneset, brevet, briquette, brochette, brunet, burette, burnet, cadet, cassette, cermet, Colette, coquet, coquette, cornet, corselet, corvette, coset, courgette, croquette, curette, curvet, cuvette, dinette, dip net, diskette, dragnet, duet, egret, fan-jet, fishnet, fly net, forget, gazette, georgette, Gillette, gillnet, gill net, godet, grisette, handset, hard-set, headset, ink-jet, inlet, inset, jet set, Juliet, kismet, layette, life net, lorgnette, lunette, maquette, Marquette, mind-set, mist net, moonset, moquette, motet, musette, nerve net, noisette, nonet, nymphet, octet, offset, onset, outlet, outset, paillette, pallette, palmette, pipette, piquet, planchette, pound net, poussette, preset, quartet, quickset, quintet, raclette, ramet, ramjet, regret, reset, revet, rocket, roomette, rosette, roulette, saw set, septet, sestet, sextet, sharp-set, soubrette, spinet, stage set, stylet, sublet, subset, sunset, syrette, tea set, thickset, Tibet, toilette, tonette, trijet, twinset, typeset, Undset, unset, vedette, vignette, well-set