as in unrest
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
the government can no longer control the social upheaval brought about by the collapse of the country's economy
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of upheaval
The story of why such a typewriter even exists runs parallel to the political upheaval and conflict over Chinese identity and politics in the 20th century.
—
Emily Feng, NPR, 5 July 2025
Nashville General Hospital has served as the city's safety net hospital for decades but recently has been the center of controversies and upheaval.
—Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
The Knights are coming off a disappointing 4-win season, which saw a coaching change and plenty of upheaval on the roster.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2025
The dashboard comes at a time when the justice system is still adjusting to major changes, like the elimination of cash bail in 2023 in addition to the massive upheaval brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
Emily Feng, NPR, 5 July 2025
Nashville General Hospital has served as the city's safety net hospital for decades but recently has been the center of controversies and upheaval.
—Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
The Knights are coming off a disappointing 4-win season, which saw a coaching change and plenty of upheaval on the roster.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2025
The dashboard comes at a time when the justice system is still adjusting to major changes, like the elimination of cash bail in 2023 in addition to the massive upheaval brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upheaval
Noun
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Park’s father was among those armed shopkeepers during the unrest.—
Hanna Kang,
Oc Register,
9 July 2025
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Gunn acknowledged that the movie’s themes may be interpreted differently across political groups, especially considering the current nationwide unrest around immigration.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
6 July 2025
Noun
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But a December revolution ended the Assad family’s rule, and the former Islamist militant who leads the new government has sought new investment and trade links, which Gulf states in particular have been quick to offer.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
1 July 2025
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On July 7th, Uranus, the planet of disruption, awakening, and revolution, enters Gemini for the first time since 1942.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
30 June 2025
Noun
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There are areas of Haiti that are that still have not recovered from the earthquake.—
Billal Rahman
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
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Earth processes – such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – also trigger cascading hazards, often with long-lasting effects.—
Brian J. Yanites,
The Conversation,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Especially given the turmoil with the other edge rushers, eyes are focused on seeing if Murphy looks like the same underachiever from the first two years or a blossoming athletic specimen.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
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The turmoil points to a clash on competing visions over how to run the economy.—
Brit Morse,
Fortune,
6 July 2025
Noun
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The succession of scandals crescendoes to cause internal revolt.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
4 July 2025
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During the English Civil War in 1642, the medieval crown jewels were destroyed as a symbol of revolt against the monarchy.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Discover Magazine,
30 June 2025
Noun
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Those dismissed include two attorneys who worked as supervisors overseeing the Jan. 6 prosecutions in the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington as well as a line attorney who prosecuted cases stemming from the Capitol riot and insurrection, the people said.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
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Once the security forces started killing and torturing enough protesters, the demonstrations, which did spiral into insurrections in 2017 and 2019, petered out.—
ERIC EDELMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
20 June 2025
Noun
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In the decades after the Tibetan uprising in 1959, tens of thousands of Tibetans braved frostbite and Himalayan avalanches to live in the proximity of the 14th Dalai Lama.—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
2 July 2025
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The Gulf Arabs financed the counter-revolution against the popular Arab uprisings and worked to counter the influence of a stronger Iran.—
Dina Esfandiary,
Time,
1 July 2025
Noun
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But can the practice of cloud seeding cause torrential storms like this?—
Joyce Orlando,
The Tennessean,
10 July 2025
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Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT
Updated July 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheaval. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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