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
Newsweek spoke with Hayley and her 25-year-old son, Jay, about the misdiagnosis that upended their lives.
—
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
Climate change’s impact on rainfall and temperature is also upending estimates of how much electricity hydropower dams across the region can produce.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Aug. 2025
If nuclear fusion finally becomes a reality, that could upend all the projections.
—Alexander C. Kaufman, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 2025
This was a move to circumvent the California Values Act and the county’s own Board Policy on Immigration Enforcement, and an attempt to coerce local sheriffs into executing a federal agenda that upends due process, undermines fundamental constitutional protections, and erodes public trust.
—Erin Tsurumoto Grassi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upend
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
Climate change’s impact on rainfall and temperature is also upending estimates of how much electricity hydropower dams across the region can produce.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Aug. 2025
If nuclear fusion finally becomes a reality, that could upend all the projections.
—Alexander C. Kaufman, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 2025
This was a move to circumvent the California Values Act and the county’s own Board Policy on Immigration Enforcement, and an attempt to coerce local sheriffs into executing a federal agenda that upends due process, undermines fundamental constitutional protections, and erodes public trust.
—Erin Tsurumoto Grassi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upend
Verb
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The strength of record metric rewards teams for defeating quality opponents and minimizes the penalty for losing to good teams.—
Blake Toppmeyer,
USA TODAY,
21 Aug. 2025
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Hamas is severely weakened but not defeated Hamas has suffered heavy losses through nearly two years of war.—
Samy Magdy,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Haleiwa Hotel was erected at the mouth of the Anahulu River in 1899 and stood there for 44 years, in stark contrast to its rural surroundings.—
Paula Conway,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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The original bronze statue—the first in the world—was erected in 1980 at the same location but was moved indoors in 1996 to the downtown Memphis Tennessee State Welcome Center to protect it from the elements and over-adoring fans.—
Korrin Bishop,
Southern Living,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Pointing to a legal analysis weighing reasons why the FTC's antitrust claims might not hold up in court, Olson suggested that the FTC is unlikely to overcome constitutional protections and win its ad war on the merits.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
22 Aug. 2025
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The eventual winner will have to overcome astronomical odds of 1 in 292.2 million to win the Powerball jackpot.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Local organizations and community members in Milwaukee are working to raise funds and support for both Hanan Refugees Relief Group and the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Funding and cost increases raise concerns The board told voters that the first phase would not cost more than $17.5 million, according to the suit.—
Chase Jordan,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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What’s particularly telling is that this versatility has been mastered out of necessity for women athletes and teams.—
Lindsey Darvin,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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First, find all of the pieces, then master the art of folding each one into a rectangle, leaving one pillowcase off to the side.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Her love for journalism began with taking freelance sports photos for her local newspaper, The Fulton Sun, during high school, and her involvement with multiple school publications.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Aug. 2025
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But behind the brand deals, designer outfits and elaborate costumes, the process was taking a toll.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Corporate news Intuit's results in the last three months of its fiscal year beat forecasts.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
23 Aug. 2025
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Adams was also charged with beating his pregnant girlfriend in 2022 in a case that was later dismissed.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Indeed, Trump, who typically blames Ukraine for having been invaded, configures Putin’s Russia as eager for peace, even though Moscow has spent the summer relentlessly attacking civilian targets in Ukraine and pushing to conquer more territory.—
MICHAEL KIMMAGE,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
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Mao Zedong is said to have suggested that anyone who couldn’t tolerate chiles couldn’t be a revolutionary; all over the world, and for centuries, spiciness has been something to conquer, and chiles have symbolized strength, bravery, national pride, and virility.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
18 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upend. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.
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