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
But injecting Tatum and his five all-NBA appearances into Boston’s already surprising season could upend all those dreams.
—
David Aldridge, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Khosla warned the impending AI jobs apocalypse will upend the economy by the end of the decade, and tech could soon replace some 80% of jobs, including some of the roles that have traditionally been associated with years of training or education.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
The pace of this campaign is unprecedented, upending most norms of warfare and its old timelines.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Of course, the arrival of a gay son, working as a fashion designer, who upends family and village traditions once the news leaks among the villagers, leads to tensions and is being used by a tribal elder to try and push Ngwato’s dad, Lesiba, out of his leadership role.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upend
David Aldridge, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Khosla warned the impending AI jobs apocalypse will upend the economy by the end of the decade, and tech could soon replace some 80% of jobs, including some of the roles that have traditionally been associated with years of training or education.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
The pace of this campaign is unprecedented, upending most norms of warfare and its old timelines.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Of course, the arrival of a gay son, working as a fashion designer, who upends family and village traditions once the news leaks among the villagers, leads to tensions and is being used by a tribal elder to try and push Ngwato’s dad, Lesiba, out of his leadership role.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upend
Verb
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Luka Doncic scored 44 points despite not playing the fourth quarter, and the Lakers defeated the struggling Indiana Pacers 128-117 on Friday night with LeBron James and Deandre Ayton out because of injury.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Birdville defeated Heritage 77-71 in the state semifinals last season before falling in the state title game to Beaumont West Brook in overtime.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Its long jarrah table was the construction site for hearty lunches for neighbors who came to help erect a mill or for a cricket match, and for visitors calling in on their way to or from Perth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
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Richardson was honored at halftime with an announcement that the school will erect a statue of him outside Bud Walton Arena.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The president's endorsement didn't clear the GOP crowded field to replace Greene — some observers cast that as a sign of weakness — but Fuller easily overcame other Republican contenders.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
11 Mar. 2026
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Next, despite a close first half, Kansas State couldn’t overcome BYU and star freshman AJ Dybansta, falling to the Cougars 105-91 to finish off a disappointing season.—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Despite his status as a longtime Democratic donor, Ellison’s acquisition of The Free Press and his installation of founder Bari Weiss atop CBS News also raised alarm from Democrats, who have criticized some of her editorial decisions as biased against the left.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
6 Mar. 2026
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Mahan, who recently entered the race and is supported by Silicon Valley leaders, has quickly raised millions of dollars, as have two independent expenditures committees backing his bid.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Because when volume is understood and mastered, there is no outfit that doesn’t look self-assured.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
8 Mar. 2026
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Hepburn was known for her distinct voice and cadence, which is something Collins will have to focus on mastering.—
Sarah Sotoodeh , Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Advice columnist Carolyn Hax takes your comments and questions most Fridays about life, family, relationships and more.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
27 Mar. 2026
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If possible, take some time to journal or meditate (napping would also be valid).—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Two men were beaten outside a Santana Row restaurant on Sunday afternoon in an incident that is being investigated as a potential antisemitic hate crime, San Jose authorities said Tuesday.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
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If Mexico beats Italy, the three teams will be knotted at 3-1 and the winners will be determined by a tiebreaker, with the team that allowed the most runs eliminated.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Shakespeare’s fierce and primal tragedy follows the celebrated warrior who knows how to conquer enemies but not how to win hearts.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
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After fashion’s front row set conquered London, the caravan rolled onto Milan Fashion Week, where the energy felt instantly amplified.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Upend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upend. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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