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
also
: an instance of this
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
Fiscal upheaval One bright spot could emerge on the horizon.
—
Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025
Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
The lack of upheaval worked well for two home matches.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
That upheaval allowed Nvidia to grow from a niche player into the world’s most valuable semiconductor company — with revenue that now eclipses Intel’s sales.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
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Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025
Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
The lack of upheaval worked well for two home matches.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
That upheaval allowed Nvidia to grow from a niche player into the world’s most valuable semiconductor company — with revenue that now eclipses Intel’s sales.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 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 4 May. 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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