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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Johnny Rotten) — inarguably the most iconic figure of the Seventies U.K. punk revolution — and the band was attempting to move forward without him following years of acrimony, nasty barbs in the press, and a massive legal row that brought band tensions to an all-time high.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
12 July 2025
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In fact, Prime members can snag this $400 stick vacuum with an impressive motor speed of 85,000 revolutions per minute for a whopping 73 percent off now.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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On Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, a flurry of small earthquakes shook the Iliamna volcano on June 15.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
14 July 2025
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While much of America has moved past COVID-19, the pandemic that hit the industry like an earthquake continues to experience aftershocks.—
Alexander Coolidge,
The Enquirer,
13 July 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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The conditions that led to this disaster - intense moisture in the atmosphere from the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry and slow-moving storm systems, meeting specific geography of steep terrain and lack of vegetation - are textbook examples of how a warming world amplifies risk.—
María Mendiluce,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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Try to unplug unnecessary appliances before the storms approach.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheaval. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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