Thesaurus results for UPHEAVAL

upheaval

noun

ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl

Definition of upheaval

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of upheaval The Díaz sisters spoke to The Times about their season of upheaval and the recovery that informed their first independent outing yet. — Suzy Exposito, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026 While there has been some internal upheaval within the Bruins’ organization this offseason, the club decided that at least some continuity with its top minor league affiliate was the best route. — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 27 July 2026 With economic upheaval came neglect, and the once-glamorous sanatoriums and baths fell into disrepair. — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 27 July 2026 Opera Carolina lawsuits and turnover Opera Carolina has seen significant upheaval since 2024, including public and internal criticism over questions regarding nepotism and the leadership structure. — Catherine Muccigrosso july 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for upheaval

Recent Examples of Synonyms for upheaval

Noun

The killing sparked nationwide unrest, with cartel members erecting highway blockades and setting fire to vehicles and buildings across 20 Mexican states.

— CBS News, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Haiti is on the State Department’s do not travel list — owing to such hazards as crime, kidnapping, terrorism and unrest.

— Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

Definition of unrest

Noun

That steady flow of conversions amounts to a structural bid for the dollar, one that has little to do with the White House and everything to do with where the technology revolution is headquartered.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 July 2026
The new materials revolution is giving us all a chance to literally wear our love for animals on our sleeves.

— P.J. Smith, Footwear News, 30 July 2026

Definition of revolution

Noun

What began as one employee's devastating loss quickly grew into a community-wide effort to help earthquake victims in Venezuela.

— Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Venezuela’s fragile health care system had been deteriorating for years before two powerful earthquakes rattled the South American nation last month, killing more than 5,000 people and further exacerbating its ongoing health crisis.

— Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 31 July 2026

Definition of earthquake

Noun

So then this kind of social turmoil also with the economic turmoil, inflation was really, really high for a number of years in the '90s.

— Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
First signs of turmoil emerged in July last year, when LuisaViaRoma revealed plans to streamline its business operations by shutting its unit and office in Milan.

— Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 July 2026

Definition of turmoil

Noun

His position is no different from that of his counterparts in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, other South Asian nations which also faced Gen Z revolts that saw the exit of the existing order.

— Vasuki Shastry, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
The decision led to a revolt by New Hampshire, which has a state law requiring it to hold the first primary, and penalties that kept Biden off the ballot in the state's primary.

— Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 24 July 2026

Definition of revolt

Noun

The disparities from slavery to Jim Crow continue to haunt Black life and have fueled Black insurrection.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
Commentators such as Canadian journalist and filmmaker Paul Jay, founder and former CEO of The Real News Network, have described the 2021 insurrection as a dry run for future attempts to subvert American democracy.

— James Robenalt, Vanity Fair, 27 July 2026

Definition of insurrection

Noun

Read in the context of the uprising that produced it, however, the decision illustrates how resource extraction, racialized labor and the expansion of federal power had become intertwined.

— Edward D. Melillo, Fortune, 27 July 2026
In Kenya, veterans of the Mau Mau uprising won a settlement in which the British government would distribute £20 million in reparations to five thousand of their survivors.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026

Definition of uprising

Noun

In Hackensack, New Jersey, a blown transformer during Tuesday's storm sparked a fire that destroyed multiple vehicles and left more than 1,000 customers without power.

— Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 29 July 2026
The chance of rain reaching the Kansas City metro from the morning storms is low, but there’s another chance of pop-up storms with heavy downpours possible Wednesday afternoon and evening, forecasters said.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026

Definition of storm

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upheaval

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“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheaval. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of upheaval

noun

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