1
as in to defeat
to achieve a victory over
the team won the division play-offs, but was upended in the final championship game
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to erect
to fix in an upright position
we had to upend the sofa in order to fit it into the elevator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of upend
The Jayhawks have won one league postseason tourney title, upending Nebraska 9-7 in 2006 at Oklahoma City.
—
Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2026
The rise of streaming services has upended the traditional business model for movie marketing, Santo said.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Nearly two decades later, this same type of live animal market likely sparked the COVID-19 pandemic that upended the world order and killed millions of people.
—Neil Vora, Time, 22 May 2026
But when an unexpected pregnancy upends their fragile dynamic, Caroline is pushed out of the circle triggering a fallout that unearths secrets and sends shockwaves through the entire town.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for upend
Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2026
The rise of streaming services has upended the traditional business model for movie marketing, Santo said.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Nearly two decades later, this same type of live animal market likely sparked the COVID-19 pandemic that upended the world order and killed millions of people.
—Neil Vora, Time, 22 May 2026
But when an unexpected pregnancy upends their fragile dynamic, Caroline is pushed out of the circle triggering a fallout that unearths secrets and sends shockwaves through the entire town.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for upend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upend
Verb
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The team ultimately came back to defeat the Goldeyes 12-5 later in the day on Thursday.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2026
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There were heavy losses on both sides of the conflict (RIP Frenchie, in particular), and Homelander was ultimately defeated and killed by a vengeful Butcher.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2026
Verb
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According to the organization, Sánchez’s administration has not only ushered in a slate of reforms but also erected guardrails against the country’s rising far-right movements.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
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Trump has erected other roadblocks for the industry, while going all-in on fossil fuels.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The project comes on the heels of filmmaker Nina Lee and Will Packer discussing the rarity of You, Me & Tuscany alongside the hardships and hurdles that Black romance films must overcome in the industry from conception to funding to box office.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
19 May 2026
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Despite the hurdles that must be overcome, many experts are pretty jazzed about the possibility of a lunar nuclear reactor.—
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
19 May 2026
Verb
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That alone, to me, raises questions.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
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The governing body said the show would support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is raising $100 million to help children access education and soccer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Kate Middleton is no stranger to royal tours during her 15 years as a working royal, and in that time has mastered the art of diplomatic dressing.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
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Having mastered the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this marks his first foray into WB’s Batman DC world.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
24 May 2026
Verb
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Most recently, Andrews took home the Emmy for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance at the 76th Creative Arts Emmy Awards for her work on the Netflix hit.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
26 May 2026
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After taking a ball, Hernández sent a four-seam fastball hopping down the left-field line for an RBI double that scored Hyeseong Kim.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Ephemera is so often illustrative of the inner life of a character, a direct, beating correlative of the contents of their hearts.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
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The race in San Diego County has unnerved other Democrats, who saw Issa as easier to beat than a fresh GOP candidate — but aren’t always sure what to think about Campar-Najjar.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Perfect for conquering your next trail, the Speedgoat 6 is made with aggressive lugs that deliver a ton of traction and stability—they’re actually inspired by the hoof of a goat.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2026
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For Arteta to step into the pantheon of Arsenal managers who have conquered the English football landscape is a testament to his work.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Upend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upend. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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