Synonyms of upend

upend

verb

ˌəp-ˈend 

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

• defeat
• overcome
• master
• take
• beat
• worst
• conquer
• get
• best
• stop
• dispatch
• subdue
• surmount
• succeed
• prevail (over)
• win (against)
• lick
• triumph (over)
• get the better of
• overbear
• get around
• overmatch
• trim
• overwhelm
• sweep
• bury
• do down
• crush
• surpass
• annihilate
• finish
• flatten
• exceed
• upset
• skunk
• slaughter
• overthrow
• clobber
• better
• knock for a loop
• trounce
• unseat
• blow out
• break
• subjugate
• transcend
• excel
• vanquish
• rout
• score
• flourish
• blow away
• edge (out)
• whip
• overpower
• bomb
• cap
• top
• outdo
• thrash
• drub
• outstrip
• cream
• nose out
• outshine
• snow under
• outdistance
• wallop
• knock over
• skin
• pip
• smoke
• eclipse
• shellac
• overtop
• ace (out)
• wax
• outfight
• knock off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose (to)
• fall
• fail
• go down
• give up
• collapse
• fold
• go under
• wash out
• flunk
• flop

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

• erect
• raise
• lift
• rear
• hoist
• set up
• elevate
• put up
• pitch
• uphold
• upraise
• buttress
• brace
• support
• heighten
• up
• uplift
• shore (up)
• prop (up)
• boost
• hike
• heave
• crane
• heft
• perk (up)
• jack (up)
• pick up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flatten
• demolish
• level
• tear down
• raze
• knock down

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of upend

With this offensive, the Houthis have shattered a status quo along the coast, upended a truce that had largely held since 2022, and set the stage for further consolidation of their control of the north. — April Longley Alley, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026

The story follows Wesley, an ordinary worker whose life is upended when he becomes entangled with a hidden resistance questioning everything the Collective has taught them. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026

The Trial of Alec Baldwin follows the mercurial yet beloved actor as his life is upended by the October 2021 on-set shooting. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026

The closure caused travel chaos across the world, upending travelers’ plans with thousands of flights affected. — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026