upheaval
noun
up·heav·al
ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl 
(ˌ)ə-ˈpē-
1
: the action or an instance of upheaving especially of part of the earth's crust
2
: extreme agitation or disorder : radical change
a period of social upheaval
also
: an instance of this
one of human history's greatest upheavals
Examples of upheaval in a Sentence
The civil rights movement marked a period of social upheaval in the U.S.
the emotional upheaval of divorce
a period of cultural and social upheavals
The island was created by an upheaval of the ocean floor.
The lake was formed by geologic upheaval.
Recent Examples on the Web
Moreover, the panel's move on hepatitis B — in the face of overwhelming data that shows the birth dose is effective and safe — portends further upheaval for the nation's childhood vaccine schedule, a cornerstone of public health.
—
Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Not merely as a matter of continuity, alignment and stability — though those are crucial points amid all the general upheaval in college sports, with six Southeastern Conference rivals changing coaches and at a school with its fourth athletic director since Mike Alden retired in 2015.
—Kansas City Star, 12 Dec. 2025
Daniel Zhao chief economist at Glassdoor Workers could also be feeling residual stress and anxiety from the upheaval of the pandemic in recent years, Zhao says.
—Sarah Jackson, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
Over the past year, K Street players have stared down rapidly evolving tariff regimes, sweeping tax changes, military conflicts, deregulation campaigns and upheaval in the federal workforce.
—Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
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Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Not merely as a matter of continuity, alignment and stability — though those are crucial points amid all the general upheaval in college sports, with six Southeastern Conference rivals changing coaches and at a school with its fourth athletic director since Mike Alden retired in 2015.
—Kansas City Star, 12 Dec. 2025
Daniel Zhao chief economist at Glassdoor Workers could also be feeling residual stress and anxiety from the upheaval of the pandemic in recent years, Zhao says.
—Sarah Jackson, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
Over the past year, K Street players have stared down rapidly evolving tariff regimes, sweeping tax changes, military conflicts, deregulation campaigns and upheaval in the federal workforce.
—Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
Cite this Entry
“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upheaval. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upheaval
noun
up·heav·al
ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl
(ˌ)ə-ˈpē-
1
: the action or an instance of heaving or lifting up from beneath especially of part of the earth's crust
2
: an instance of violent disorder or change
emotional upheaval
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