top·sy-tur·vy
ˌtäp-sē-ˈtər-vē 
1
: in utter confusion or disorder
2
: with the top or head downward : upside down
: turned topsy-turvy : totally disordered
Synonyms
Examples of topsy-turvy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2023
In a topsy-turvy battle, UAA topped Upper Iowa 3-2 (15-25, 25-13, 14-25, 25-13, 15-13) in the opening day of the Seawolf Invitational at Alaska Airlines Center.
—Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Sep. 2023
That spark goes a bit topsy-turvy when the kind-hearted Adam invites Chloe, her dad and older brother to move into the basement of the Campbell house.
—Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 17 Aug. 2023
The world is topsy-turvy — and that’s putting it mildly.
—Dianna Mazzone, Allure, 3 Aug. 2023
Helping Barbie navigate her topsy-turvy new existence are other women.
—Willa Paskin, New York Times, 11 July 2023
In the topsy-turvy world of 2024 Republican politics, rivals of Donald Trump had been bracing for weeks for his second indictment with more dread than any sense of opportunity.
—Shane Goldmacher, BostonGlobe.com, 9 June 2023
Through all the distractions and challenges of a topsy-turvy regular season and, yes, all those road losses, Curry and the defending NBA champions find themselves in a familiar place as May approaches: looking to close out a playoff series at home.
—Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 28 Apr. 2023
The move reflects growing demand for returns on savings as a topsy-turvy stock market, looming recession fears and aggressive interest rate hikes transform the old-fashioned savings account into a newly attractive financial option, personal finance experts told ABC News.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2023
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2023
Pinsker’s characters always make the best of tricky situations, which only makes their struggles in her topsy-turvy worlds more heartbreaking.
—Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2023
Her child was topsy-turvy all over the back seat with her shoes leaving marks on my back window.
—Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 7 Mar. 2023
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Adverb
It's already been a topsy-turvy start to the Big Ten season after Thursday's night's chaotic Minnesota-Nebraska finish.
—Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2023
In a topsy-turvy battle, UAA topped Upper Iowa 3-2 (15-25, 25-13, 14-25, 25-13, 15-13) in the opening day of the Seawolf Invitational at Alaska Airlines Center.
—Chris Bieri, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Sep. 2023
That spark goes a bit topsy-turvy when the kind-hearted Adam invites Chloe, her dad and older brother to move into the basement of the Campbell house.
—Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 17 Aug. 2023
The world is topsy-turvy — and that’s putting it mildly.
—Dianna Mazzone, Allure, 3 Aug. 2023
Helping Barbie navigate her topsy-turvy new existence are other women.
—Willa Paskin, New York Times, 11 July 2023
In the topsy-turvy world of 2024 Republican politics, rivals of Donald Trump had been bracing for weeks for his second indictment with more dread than any sense of opportunity.
—Shane Goldmacher, BostonGlobe.com, 9 June 2023
Through all the distractions and challenges of a topsy-turvy regular season and, yes, all those road losses, Curry and the defending NBA champions find themselves in a familiar place as May approaches: looking to close out a playoff series at home.
—Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 28 Apr. 2023
The move reflects growing demand for returns on savings as a topsy-turvy stock market, looming recession fears and aggressive interest rate hikes transform the old-fashioned savings account into a newly attractive financial option, personal finance experts told ABC News.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2023
Noun
Within that film’s topsy-turvy multiverse, Quan was by turns a laundromat owner on the verge of divorcing his wife, a dashing romantic lead and an action hero.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2023
Pinsker’s characters always make the best of tricky situations, which only makes their struggles in her topsy-turvy worlds more heartbreaking.
—Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2023
Her child was topsy-turvy all over the back seat with her shoes leaving marks on my back window.
—Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 7 Mar. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'topsy-turvy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adverb
probably ultimately from tops (plural of top entry 1) + obsolete English terve to turn upside down
Dictionary Entries Near topsy-turvy
Cite this Entry
“Topsy-turvy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topsy-turvy. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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