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
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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
Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The latter film follows Ivy and Theo, a dysfunctional married couple played by Colman and Cumberbatch, whose picture-perfect life together gets upended when Ivy’s career takes off, but Theo gets fired from his job.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Adapted by Tina Fey, Tracey Wigfield, and Lang Fisher from the 1981 Alan Alda film of the same name, The Four Seasons follows a long-time friend group made up of three couples that’s upended when one of the couples breaks up.
—Sean Mandell, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Boeing’s Max storage inventory grew in 2020, when the COVID pandemic upended air travel and airlines canceled deliveries amid the financial crunch.
—Lauren Rosenblatt, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
Some 2 million school-age children have had their education upended.
—Irwin Redlener, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
The strike upended travel plans worldwide at the height of the summer season.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 16 Aug. 2025
This operation would be completely upended with the new tariff regime.
—Juan Londoño, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2025
One design is a turbine that eschews the pinwheel-like blades of a traditional windmill; instead it is shaped like an upended eggbeater, with both ends of each curved blade attached to a central pole.
—You Xiaoying, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2025
Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Halston upended the way that women dress, and their designs are still relevant all these years later.
—Wwd Staff, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Now Blitzer’s reporting paints a vivid—and horrifying—portrait of the lives that have been upended by the Administration’s most cruel policies.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Progress upended In most school districts in the 2008-09 school year, boys had higher average math scores on standardized tests than girls, the AP found in analyzing scores across 15 years in more than 5,000 school districts.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
He was later diagnosed with a shoulder strain that took him off the mound for months and upended his preparations for ‘25.
—David Brown, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
Ben Lewis Doherty, playing a boy named Sam whose life is upended by Robbie, is the show’s greatest innocent, a softhearted moppet who warns deer to be careful when crossing the street.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
The show, which counts Cedric the Entertainer among its executive producers, centers on Morgan’s character, a Harlem shop owner whose life is upended when his adult kids (Jermaine Fowler and Adrianna Mitchell) move back in with him.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
India’s relations with the US had mostly been improving in recent decades, but the White House’s imposition of hefty tariffs have upended that progress, and New Delhi has looked to expand relationships with other powers while lowering tensions with rivals such as Beijing.
—semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
But Isabel's life gets upended when her sister unexpectedly dies — especially after Isabel uncovers her sibling's unfinished bucket list.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The latter film follows Ivy and Theo, a dysfunctional married couple played by Colman and Cumberbatch, whose picture-perfect life together gets upended when Ivy’s career takes off, but Theo gets fired from his job.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Adapted by Tina Fey, Tracey Wigfield, and Lang Fisher from the 1981 Alan Alda film of the same name, The Four Seasons follows a long-time friend group made up of three couples that’s upended when one of the couples breaks up.
—Sean Mandell, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Boeing’s Max storage inventory grew in 2020, when the COVID pandemic upended air travel and airlines canceled deliveries amid the financial crunch.
—Lauren Rosenblatt, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
Some 2 million school-age children have had their education upended.
—Irwin Redlener, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
The strike upended travel plans worldwide at the height of the summer season.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 16 Aug. 2025
This operation would be completely upended with the new tariff regime.
—Juan Londoño, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2025
One design is a turbine that eschews the pinwheel-like blades of a traditional windmill; instead it is shaped like an upended eggbeater, with both ends of each curved blade attached to a central pole.
—You Xiaoying, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
But Rawlins’ peace of mind is upended when a group of powerbrokers ask him to track down Lutisha James, a woman who Easy has met before – and who knows a secret that will disrupt the detective’s personal life too.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Halston upended the way that women dress, and their designs are still relevant all these years later.
—Wwd Staff, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Now Blitzer’s reporting paints a vivid—and horrifying—portrait of the lives that have been upended by the Administration’s most cruel policies.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Progress upended In most school districts in the 2008-09 school year, boys had higher average math scores on standardized tests than girls, the AP found in analyzing scores across 15 years in more than 5,000 school districts.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
He was later diagnosed with a shoulder strain that took him off the mound for months and upended his preparations for ‘25.
—David Brown, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
Ben Lewis Doherty, playing a boy named Sam whose life is upended by Robbie, is the show’s greatest innocent, a softhearted moppet who warns deer to be careful when crossing the street.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
The show, which counts Cedric the Entertainer among its executive producers, centers on Morgan’s character, a Harlem shop owner whose life is upended when his adult kids (Jermaine Fowler and Adrianna Mitchell) move back in with him.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
India’s relations with the US had mostly been improving in recent decades, but the White House’s imposition of hefty tariffs have upended that progress, and New Delhi has looked to expand relationships with other powers while lowering tensions with rivals such as Beijing.
—semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upended
Verb
-
The Pitt defeated The White Lotus in the category, though, along Severance, Andor, The Diplomat, The Last of Us, Paradise and Slow Horses.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
In-state alog with Miami’s huge win (see above), Fllrida played credibly in a 20-10 loss to 3-LSU, and FIU defeated rival FAU 38-28 in the annual Shula Bowl game.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The statue was the color of a copper penny when it was erected in New York Harbor in 1886.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
These scaffolds are erected on skyscrapers, hundreds of feet high, and encased in fabric safety nets forming colorful cocoons of green, blue and purple.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Dong-hwan also begins to suspect that his father, Yeong-gyu — a blind man who overcame his disability to raise him and become a master artisan — may be guarding secrets of his own.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Quarterback Austin Simmons threw for 235 yards as the Rebels overcame a 10-0 deficit.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The decision upheld a previous denial by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission over traffic concerns raised by city officials and in more than 300 public comments.—
Rose Evans
September 10,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Sep. 2025
-
After new state data showed substantial academic gains, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education members defended a six-figure consulting contract Tuesday that raised questions earlier this year about family connections to the district.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For anyone who loves cooking or has long been intimidated by it, Typhur has designed a future where every meal can be mastered, and every cook can have the power of precision in their hands.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Operating at the Frontier If yesterday’s winners mastered the deal model, tomorrow’s winners will master integration, culture, and execution.—
Gustaf Lundberg Toresson,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The country’s Home Affairs Minister resigned, and the government lifted the social-media ban the day after.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The mass protests started in response to the ban—which was lifted on Tuesday, September 9—but have since broadened into an expression of dissatisfaction with the country's political leadership and alleged corruption.—
Robert Birsel
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This just took so much out of me.—
Steve Baltin,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
So that trade talks could proceed, America lowered its tariffs against China to a still-high 30%, while China took its rate to 10%.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The deputy assigned to the school that morning was dispatched to a nearby accident, which Kelley said was routine and did not violate departmental policy.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
13 Sep. 2025
-
An 18-person rescue crew was dispatched, and the Fire Department used an on-site crane to lift the worker from the tunnel.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upended. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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