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
Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Life, and with it, the family’s cooking, upended.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 5 Mar. 2026
Aside from the human toll from the war, the fighting in the Middle East has rattled markets and upended supply chains, threatening to drive prices higher for American consumers on everything from home loans to groceries.
—Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
The Hamas massacre of October 7—whose atrocities were broadcast online by its perpetrators and seared into the Israeli consciousness—upended and discredited this approach.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
But the war, while still in its early stages, is part of a much longer continuum of events that have severely weakened Iran, Hezbollah and other proxy militias, and upended political balance in the region.
—Adam Geller, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
In the seventh installment (yes, seventh), a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott (Campbell) has built a new life, which is promptly upended when Tatum becomes the killer’s next target.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 26 Feb. 2026
In a show of support, more than a dozen senior European officials headed to the Ukrainian capital to mark the grim anniversary of the conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of people, upended life for millions of Ukrainians, and created instability far beyond its borders.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
At the same time, investors are growing increasingly worried about the businesses that will potentially be swept aside — or at least significantly upended — by the new applications that are being steadily rolled out.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026
Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
In December, Seattle City Council upended the city’s zoning rules to allow for four-story apartment buildings on every residential lot.
—Allie Cannington, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2026
The actor opens up about her tumultuous childhood, her five-decade-long career and the MS diagnosis that upended it all.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Oil spiked above $110 a barrel as more major producers curbed production, a crucial waterway remained all but closed and the US threatened to deepen a conflict that has upended energy markets.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
There are dangers that the entire global supply chain could be upended, raising costs for businesses and their customers.
—Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
With the global energy market upended, central banks are confronted again with the question of whether to mind the inflation or the growth impact.
—Chris Anstey, Bloomberg, 6 Mar. 2026
All of a sudden their 2026 business plans are upended by an increase in fuel costs’’ caused by the war with Iran.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
The three couples, Kate (Fey) and Jack (Forte), Nick (Steve Carell) and Anne (Kenney-Silver), and Danny (Domingo) and Claude (Marco Calvani), are completely upended by the news.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
On Monday, Brent soared as much as 29% to near $120 a barrel, the biggest intraday move since April 2020, with the US threatening to deepen a conflict that’s upended energy markets.
—Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Life, and with it, the family’s cooking, upended.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 5 Mar. 2026
Aside from the human toll from the war, the fighting in the Middle East has rattled markets and upended supply chains, threatening to drive prices higher for American consumers on everything from home loans to groceries.
—Shannon Pettypiece, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026
The Hamas massacre of October 7—whose atrocities were broadcast online by its perpetrators and seared into the Israeli consciousness—upended and discredited this approach.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
But the war, while still in its early stages, is part of a much longer continuum of events that have severely weakened Iran, Hezbollah and other proxy militias, and upended political balance in the region.
—Adam Geller, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
In the seventh installment (yes, seventh), a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott (Campbell) has built a new life, which is promptly upended when Tatum becomes the killer’s next target.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 26 Feb. 2026
In a show of support, more than a dozen senior European officials headed to the Ukrainian capital to mark the grim anniversary of the conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of people, upended life for millions of Ukrainians, and created instability far beyond its borders.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
At the same time, investors are growing increasingly worried about the businesses that will potentially be swept aside — or at least significantly upended — by the new applications that are being steadily rolled out.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
The actress has been developing an adaptation of Araminta Hall’s novel Imperfect Women since 2019, following three longtime friends whose lives are upended when one of them is murdered and secrets start to be uncovered.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
In December, Seattle City Council upended the city’s zoning rules to allow for four-story apartment buildings on every residential lot.
—Allie Cannington, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2026
The actor opens up about her tumultuous childhood, her five-decade-long career and the MS diagnosis that upended it all.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Oil spiked above $110 a barrel as more major producers curbed production, a crucial waterway remained all but closed and the US threatened to deepen a conflict that has upended energy markets.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
There are dangers that the entire global supply chain could be upended, raising costs for businesses and their customers.
—Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
With the global energy market upended, central banks are confronted again with the question of whether to mind the inflation or the growth impact.
—Chris Anstey, Bloomberg, 6 Mar. 2026
All of a sudden their 2026 business plans are upended by an increase in fuel costs’’ caused by the war with Iran.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
The three couples, Kate (Fey) and Jack (Forte), Nick (Steve Carell) and Anne (Kenney-Silver), and Danny (Domingo) and Claude (Marco Calvani), are completely upended by the news.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upended
Verb
-
Sierra Canyon defeated Santa Margarita 72-60 behind 23 points and 10 rebounds from Brandon McCoy.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Jayson Tatum kick-started Boston with a strong first quarter in his second game back from Achilles surgery, and co-star Jaylen Brown flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as the Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 109-98 at Rocket Arena.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But images from 2016 revealed that a fence had been erected to separate the school from the rest of the base, and that a separate entrance to the school had been built.—
Gianluca Mezzofiore,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The gates also appeared to be closed, and a set of brick walls had been erected in front of the glass front of the building, blocking a direct line of sight from the parking lot.—
Lucas Finton,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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To win, Bhatia overcame swirling emotions to summon the best golf of his young career to apply pressure on Berger, who finally cracked down the stretch and opened the door.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Aaron Gordon overcame his first obstacle by getting back on the court.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The family soon moved to the Southern California city of El Monte, where Joe McDonald was raised.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Gardner, who was born and raised in Detroit, totaled four points, five rebounds and two assists in 16 minutes against his hometown team.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Emily Lazar mastered the record, assisted by Bob DeMaa.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Real kabuki actors apply their own makeup — one of the many facets of the art form mastered over countless years of arduous practice — but the production didn’t expect its stars to go to such lengths of method preparation.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Unable to ramp up through the first month of spring training because of lingering shoulder soreness, Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell took a step toward readiness Thursday, throwing his first bullpen session.—
Jack Vita,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The Jayhawks started this game on a 9-0 run, but TCU quickly caught up and took control, particularly with KU’s Bidunga in foul trouble.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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General Stirling was dispatched that same day, with some 2,500 troops executing a surprise attack on the enemy on Staten Island.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Thomas Gross, who had been dispatched to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center because an employee reported that someone was trying to breach it, was shot in his upper shoulder.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 6,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
News broke yesterday that Andor‘s Beau Willimon has boarded a Game of Thrones movie, which will follow the story of Aegon I, the first Lord of the Seven Kingdoms who conquered Westeros and spawned the Targaryen dynasty.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Upended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upended. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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