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 film centers on a pickpocket who survives by exploiting the desires of closeted men, until his detached worldview is upended when one of his marks returns seeking closeness rather than settling scores.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 May 2026
Karma follows Cotillard as a woman with a troubled past whose new life is upended by a child’s disappearance.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 16 May 2026
The hook for both series was how to upend the peaceful endings each surviving Dutton child was handed in the Yellowstone series finale.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
The first weeks of the conflict leave thousands dead—including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—and millions displaced, while also upending the world economy.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for upend
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 May 2026
Karma follows Cotillard as a woman with a troubled past whose new life is upended by a child’s disappearance.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 16 May 2026
The hook for both series was how to upend the peaceful endings each surviving Dutton child was handed in the Yellowstone series finale.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
The first weeks of the conflict leave thousands dead—including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—and millions displaced, while also upending the world economy.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 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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Costas did not take a position on whether such promos should be banned or limited but warned that sports wagers are fueling the growth of casinos and international sportsbooks.—
Luke Connors,
Washington Post,
19 May 2026
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Muslims throughout the world today are observing the second day of Dhu’l-Hijja, which takes place annually on the last month of the Islamic calendar.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
19 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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