1
as in defeated
to achieve a victory over
the team won the division play-offs, but was upended in the final championship game
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in erected
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 upended
Jamey Keaten, Arkansas Online, 30 Dec. 2025
Fletcher, noting the upended aid landscape, already slashed the request this year.
—Jamey Keaten, Fortune, 29 Dec. 2025
But when Delilah unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep – literally – Kate and Mac's life and holiday season get upended.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Dec. 2025
Since peaking in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic upended workplaces across the county, the number of state workers who retire each year has generally decreased, according to numbers from the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 1 Dec. 2025
There were massive protests and a ton of public outcry, especially among the thousands of government workers whose careers and livelihoods were completely upended.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 1 Dec. 2025
Her casting in this year’s audacious, cinematic Hedda adaptation feels full-circle — especially since her role, as our antiheroine’s former lover, is the most radically upended from the original.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 21 Nov. 2025
Yet, even with the Saints missing Brees and top running back Alvin Kamara, the Bears were all too easily upended.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
But when a secret comes to life, their plans to attend the same college—and live out their happily ever after—are upended.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
But his plans were soon upended by damning reports on the social services fraud scams that have blossomed in Minnesota in the years since the Covid-19 pandemic, while Walz led the state.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Numerous public health experts slammed the move, which upended years of precedent and bypassed traditional decision-making structures.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2026
The Eagles' chances were upended when Kelee Ringo — yes, a backup — was flagged for pass interference to set up Johnson's go-ahead rushing TD.
—CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Hundreds gathered outside El Arepazo in Doral, sharing stories of lives upended by political violence, shortages and imprisonment, and expressing hope for freedom and a chance to rebuild their country.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
His campaign upended local and national politics with an ambitious − critics say unfeasible − platform to tackle the cost of living through a rent freeze on a million city apartments, free buses, and free child care.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 1 Jan. 2026
This was the year that upended nearly every assumption about the business of storytelling.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 29 Dec. 2025
This conservative grumbling soon grew into the Tea Party movement, which upended the Republican establishment.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Fletcher, noting the upended aid landscape, already slashed the request this year.
—Jamey Keaten, Arkansas Online, 30 Dec. 2025
Fletcher, noting the upended aid landscape, already slashed the request this year.
—Jamey Keaten, Fortune, 29 Dec. 2025
But when Delilah unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep – literally – Kate and Mac's life and holiday season get upended.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Dec. 2025
Since peaking in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic upended workplaces across the county, the number of state workers who retire each year has generally decreased, according to numbers from the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 1 Dec. 2025
There were massive protests and a ton of public outcry, especially among the thousands of government workers whose careers and livelihoods were completely upended.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 1 Dec. 2025
Her casting in this year’s audacious, cinematic Hedda adaptation feels full-circle — especially since her role, as our antiheroine’s former lover, is the most radically upended from the original.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 21 Nov. 2025
Yet, even with the Saints missing Brees and top running back Alvin Kamara, the Bears were all too easily upended.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
But when a secret comes to life, their plans to attend the same college—and live out their happily ever after—are upended.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
Oshetsky’s newest novel follows Celia, a young woman whose seemingly idyllic life is upended when a friend of hers is murdered in an affair gone wrong.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
But his plans were soon upended by damning reports on the social services fraud scams that have blossomed in Minnesota in the years since the Covid-19 pandemic, while Walz led the state.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Numerous public health experts slammed the move, which upended years of precedent and bypassed traditional decision-making structures.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2026
The Eagles' chances were upended when Kelee Ringo — yes, a backup — was flagged for pass interference to set up Johnson's go-ahead rushing TD.
—CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Hundreds gathered outside El Arepazo in Doral, sharing stories of lives upended by political violence, shortages and imprisonment, and expressing hope for freedom and a chance to rebuild their country.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
His campaign upended local and national politics with an ambitious − critics say unfeasible − platform to tackle the cost of living through a rent freeze on a million city apartments, free buses, and free child care.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 1 Jan. 2026
This was the year that upended nearly every assumption about the business of storytelling.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 29 Dec. 2025
This conservative grumbling soon grew into the Tea Party movement, which upended the Republican establishment.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upended
Verb
-
The first turned a fourth-quarter fumble into a 59-yard score when Achane burst through a tired, and seemingly defeated Buffalo defensive front and outsprinted the Bills’ entire secondary to the end zone.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Nov. 2025
-
In nonplayoff action, Ben Chen rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns as Westford Academy defeated Newton South, 33-13.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Authorities erected barricades outside the facility, and a small group of counter-demonstrators also showed up.—
Rebecca Santana,
Twin Cities,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Nevertheless, Spaniards erected churches in Native communities, and Franciscans often claimed that many Indigenous people welcomed their presence.—
Peter C. Mancall,
The Conversation,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Keldon Johnson had 27 points, Victor Wembanyama added 16 points and 14 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs overcame 38 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists from Luka Doncic to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 107-91 on Wednesday night.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
In 2017, for instance, prosecutors in Contra Costa overcame an insanity defense by William Shultz, who murdered a 9-year-old Discovery Bay boy during a sleepover and blamed it on a delusion about an impending World War III.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Republicans, who hold a super-minority in the Legislature and have long raised concerns about taxes and regulations overburdening California businesses, will likely oppose any tax bills.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Funds raised during the 2025 Grammy Awards telecast, MusiCares’ Persons of the Year event and additional fundraising efforts were used to help deal with housing instability, interrupted income, physical health complications and ongoing trauma.—
David Wilson,
Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Jonathan Bailey has mastered the art of capturing hearts.—
Julie Jordan,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Most fans of the show have likely been bracing themselves to see how Hemsworth takes on a character Cavill has long mastered.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Döpfner nearly bought the FT in 2015, before losing it to Nikkei, and took a controlling stake in Business Insider — at the top of the new media market — for $343 million.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
With the win, Southern Miss (7-2, 5-0) took sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt Conference West Division standings.—
Michael Harley,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In return, Cuba has dispatched thousands of mercenaries to bolster Russian forces in Ukraine.—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Columbus Police Department In an interview with Spectrum News, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant appeared to explain the gap in time between when Spencer Tepe’s boss called and when his friend stopped by, saying that an officer who was initially dispatched to their home went to the wrong address.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The museum has never shied away from the more problematic areas of British art history, including art made in countries that Englands conquered or colonized.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Silicon Valley grew convinced that other difficult tasks would soon be conquered.—
Cal Newport,
New Yorker,
27 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upended. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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