Definition of uproar
: a state of commotion, excitement, or violent disturbance
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Examples of uproar in a Sentence
There was a lot of public uproar over the proposed jail.
There have been uproars in the past over similar proposals.
The proposal caused an uproar.
The town was in an uproar over the proposal to build a jail.
Recent Examples of uproar from the Web
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In Cherry Hill, an uproar erupted after a popular teacher was suspended for raising school safety concerns at Cherry Hill High School East.
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After a small uproar, aldermen took back their February decision to add health insurance to the benefits for the part-time post of municipal judge.
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The manhunt was stymied by the lack of a security camera in the elevator, and that, in turn, fueled an uproar and crystallized the neglect public housing tenants had felt for years.
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Quickly after its release, the tune sparked an uproar from several corners of the Internet.
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His comment provoked fears that the President might try to fire Mueller -- a move that would provoke uproar.
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The vistas of the rolling green hills were lovely, but inside, our family flew into an uproar.
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An uproar by preservationists halted the demolition, but its long-term protection is still in flux.
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The case of an Idaho science teacher allegedly feeding a live puppy to a snapping turtle in front of students at his school is creating an uproar on social media.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'uproar.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of uproar
by folk etymology from Dutch oproer, from Middle Dutch, from op up (akin to Old English ūp) + roer motion; akin to Old English hrēran to stir
uproar Synonyms
Synonyms
ado, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother, bustle, clatter, commotion, disturbance, foofaraw, fun, furor, furore, fuss, helter-skelter, hoopla, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly, hurly-burly, pandemonium, pother, row, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, squall, stew, stir, storm, to-do, tumult, turmoil, welter, whirl, williwaw, zoo;
Near Antonyms
calm, hush, peace, quiet, quietude, rest, stillness, tranquillity (or tranquility);
Related Words
cacophony, clamor, din, howl, hue and cry, noise, outcry, racket, roar;
eruption, flare-up, flurry, flutter, outbreak, outburst;
UPROAR Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of uproar for English Language Learners
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: a situation in which many people are upset, angry, or disturbed by something
UPROAR Defined for Kids
Definition of uproar for Students
: a state of commotion, excitement, or violent disturbance
- Now the dining room was in an uproar … as the men jumped to their feet in confusion.
- —Judith Berry Griffin, Phoebe the Spy
History for uproar
In spite of appearances, the -roar part of the word uproar has no historical connection with the sound made by some animals. In Dutch oproer means “revolt, uprising,” having been compounded from op, “up,” and roer, “motion.” When the word was taken into English, its Dutch meaning was kept at first, but its spelling was altered to fit already familiar English words. English speakers assumed that the -roar in uproar did indeed refer to loud cries, and so the word went from meaning “uprising” to “a state of commotion.”
Learn More about uproar
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See words that rhyme with uproar Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for uproar Spanish Central: Translation of uproar Nglish: Translation of uproar for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of uproar for Arabic speakers
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