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
Relevance
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
Her remarks to the Financial Times are one of a number by senior officials scrambling to address the energy upheaval caused by the Iran war, which has sent oil and gas prices soaring.
—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Pollard noted other women's basketball programs are going through similar upheaval and that players often are leaving with the hope of getting bigger revenue-sharing payments.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
For people who lived through it, those weeks - and the subsequent months - were a strange state of upheaval.
—Vincent Ni, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
The timing is also notable, given the ways Trump’s attacks on Iran and Venezuela have sparked global upheaval and challenged Chinese national interests.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Pollard noted other women's basketball programs are going through similar upheaval and that players often are leaving with the hope of getting bigger revenue-sharing payments.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
For people who lived through it, those weeks - and the subsequent months - were a strange state of upheaval.
—Vincent Ni, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
The timing is also notable, given the ways Trump’s attacks on Iran and Venezuela have sparked global upheaval and challenged Chinese national interests.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upheaval
Noun
-
This time around, though, heavy casualties risk triggering internal mass unrest in a nation where a sizable portion of the population is anti-regime, regardless of their religious embrace of martyrdom.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2026
-
After the 2020 unrest, however, City Hall moved to expand and elevate that model.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For more than two decades, the socialist revolution launched by Hugo Chávez appeared to have permanently reshaped Venezuela, creating a ruling system sustained by patronage, military loyalty and international alliances that seemed built to outlast any single leader.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The Philadelphia punks sound like they were swept off to the Middle Ages in a mosh pit and immediately started a revolution.—
Brad Sanders,
Pitchfork,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Those who noticed the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
While earthquakes cannot be predicted, Raman emphasized simple protective actions people can take, such as taking cover under a table or rolling onto your stomach and protecting your neck if already in bed.—
Kat Filardi,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Those crises required two large IMF deals supported by tens of billions of dollars in Gulf aid and investments, reflecting a long-standing view among Gulf capitals that stability in the most populous Arab country is key to preventing wider turmoil.—
Alaa Shahine Salha,
semafor.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Kara Ng, senior economist at Zillow Home Loans, said the mortgage-rate shock, fueled by bond market turmoil linked to the war in Iran, could stall the spring housing market if the conflict drags on.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As a history of the Arab revolt, Seven Pillars of Wisdom is sometimes lacking in accuracy; as an intimate memoir, however, the text is a classic.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
After enduring a series of mini-revolts from fans criticizing last spring’s casting announcement and December’s first-look trailer, Survivor 50 has gotten off to an encouraging start.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There were rebellions, insurrections and an Appian Way lined with crucifixions.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, a separate insurrection led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a Marxist political party, tore through the southern part of the country in the late 1980s, killing tens of thousands of people.—
Eranda Jayawickreme,
The Conversation,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Koeninger led off the bottom of the first inning for Keller (23-1-2 overall, 9-0 district) by lining a ball over the left field wall to start a 4-run uprising.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Contrary to expectations in Washington and Jerusalem, the war has not sparked a popular uprising.—
Kazem Kazerounian,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As for where the strongest storms will be, Hinton said forecast models point to closer to the coastline.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The series highlights systemic inequities and the government’s failures, revealing how the storm exacerbated existing social injustices while providing a platform for local voices to reclaim their story and share resilience, grief, and wisdom for future generations.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheaval. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
