uproar

noun up·roar \ ˈəp-ˌrȯr \

|Updated on: 3 Aug 2018

Examples: uproar in a Sentence

Definition of uproar

: a state of commotion, excitement, or violent disturbance

See uproar defined for English-language learners

See uproar defined for kids

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

The remarks caused an uproar among officials in Cameroon and in the local media, which accused him of trying to influence a foreign election.

— New York Times, "In Troubled Cameroon, U.S. Envoy Is Accused of Election Meddling," 12 July 2018
The federal government request came after the president reversed his zero-tolerance policy that caused uproar when children were taken from their parents in emotional scenes caught on camera.

— CBS News, "Federal judge denies Trump administration request to detain immigrant children," 9 July 2018
Shocked bystanders filmed his actions, which caused an uproar on social media.

— caille millner, San Francisco Chronicle, "It’s time for Oakland to fight for its soul," 14 June 2018
The appointment comes after a difficult period last year when a professor’s racially charged Facebook post caused an uproar and drew nationwide attention.

— maya moore, courant.com, "Trinity Appoints Vice President for Diversity, Equity And Inclusion," 6 June 2018
Others, like President Gerald Ford's pre-emptive pardon of Richard Nixon or Bill Clinton's still unbelievable pardon of Marc Rich, the wealthy former husband of his political benefactor, rightly cause an uproar.

— z. byron wolf, CNN, "President Trump keeps pardoning his political friends," 31 May 2018
The photos, since deleted by the person who posted them, caused an uproar heard by media all the way in Australia.

— lisa gutierrez, kansascity, "Kansas teen gave away her guinea pigs, and a man shot, skinned and ate them, she says | The Kansas City Star," 25 May 2018
As a rule, parties almost always support incumbents, which is one reason why the slate of endorsements sparked uproar when it was announced earlier this week, including from elected Democrats in the state.

— alex seitz-wald /, NBC News, "Rhode Island Democrats rescind endorsements following backlash," 5 July 2018
The blueberry soft serve occasionally swirled with vanilla or topped with sprinkles, even once caused an uproar.

— sarah brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Sunday is National Blue Ice Cream Day," 29 June 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1526

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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);

order, orderliness;

disorder, unrest, upheaval;

eruption, flare-up, flurry, flutter, outbreak, outburst;

brawl, fracas, fray, hassle, melee (also mêlée), scuffle;

dither, fever, fret, lather, tizzy;

UPROAR Defined for English Language Learners

uproar

noun

Definition of uproar for English Language Learners

: a situation in which many people are upset, angry, or disturbed by something

UPROAR Defined for Kids

uproar

noun up·roar \ ˈəp-ˌrȯr \

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.”