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
Kendrick Marshall, Charlotte Observer, 26 Sep. 2025
Freight rates thus far in the second half of 2025 have been characterized by a constant decline on the heels of tariff whiplash that largely dominated the April-to-June stretch and ultimately upended (and cut short) the typical August-to-October peak shipping season.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 22 Sep. 2025
Adolescence tells the story of Eddie (Graham) and Manda Miller (Christine Tremarco), whose lives are upended when their 13-year-old son Jamie (Cooper) is arrested for the murder of a girl at his school.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
More Americans have enrolled their children in charter schools in the years since the coronavirus pandemic upended education, according to new data—at a time when enrollment at traditional public schools is continuing to decline.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
But when Delilah unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep – literally – Kate and Mac’s life and holiday season get upended.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
But when Delilah unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep — literally — Kate and Mac’s life and holiday season get upended.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Annie Smith tallied two goals, while Addison Combs had a goal and an assist as Apponequet (4-0-1) upended Bourne 5-0 in a South Coast Conference game.
—Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 17 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
Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
The old model for startups (raise a few rounds of venture money, then go public) or buyouts (clean up the business, then relist within a few years) has been upended by the rise of private money as an alternative to being public.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Their world is upended when a new neighbor moves in across the street, bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter the idylic illusion of their quiet little neighborhood.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
Half a world away, in the United States, political life, as expressed on college campuses, in street protests, and at the ballot box, would be upended and reordered in ways that will reverberate for years to come.
—Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2025
Through single-cell RNA sequencing, the team indeed saw that glioblastoma upended the skull bone marrow's environment – filling it with pro-inflammatory neutrophils while decimating cancer-fighting antibody-producing B cells.
—New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2025
The first Dutch original film on Disney+, The Balloonist shows what happens when young chicken farmer Gaby's predictable life is upended by a hot air balloon crashing into her coop.
—PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025
The attack upended check-in desk operations and boarding information for flights in major airports such as London Heathrow and Brussels.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Those routines were upended in October 2023, after Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
Asheville was one of several western North Carolina towns ravaged by the destructive force of Hurricane Helene, which damaged structures and upended lives in September 2024.
—Kendrick Marshall, Charlotte Observer, 26 Sep. 2025
Freight rates thus far in the second half of 2025 have been characterized by a constant decline on the heels of tariff whiplash that largely dominated the April-to-June stretch and ultimately upended (and cut short) the typical August-to-October peak shipping season.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 22 Sep. 2025
Adolescence tells the story of Eddie (Graham) and Manda Miller (Christine Tremarco), whose lives are upended when their 13-year-old son Jamie (Cooper) is arrested for the murder of a girl at his school.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
More Americans have enrolled their children in charter schools in the years since the coronavirus pandemic upended education, according to new data—at a time when enrollment at traditional public schools is continuing to decline.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
But when Delilah unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep – literally – Kate and Mac’s life and holiday season get upended.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
But when Delilah unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep — literally — Kate and Mac’s life and holiday season get upended.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Annie Smith tallied two goals, while Addison Combs had a goal and an assist as Apponequet (4-0-1) upended Bourne 5-0 in a South Coast Conference game.
—Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 17 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
Adjective
Maya Levin | Afp | Getty Images The ceasefire agreement follows a brutal two-year war that has sparked global outcry, upended the Middle East and left Israel increasingly isolated on the international stage.
—Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
The old model for startups (raise a few rounds of venture money, then go public) or buyouts (clean up the business, then relist within a few years) has been upended by the rise of private money as an alternative to being public.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Their world is upended when a new neighbor moves in across the street, bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter the idylic illusion of their quiet little neighborhood.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
Half a world away, in the United States, political life, as expressed on college campuses, in street protests, and at the ballot box, would be upended and reordered in ways that will reverberate for years to come.
—Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2025
Through single-cell RNA sequencing, the team indeed saw that glioblastoma upended the skull bone marrow's environment – filling it with pro-inflammatory neutrophils while decimating cancer-fighting antibody-producing B cells.
—New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2025
The first Dutch original film on Disney+, The Balloonist shows what happens when young chicken farmer Gaby's predictable life is upended by a hot air balloon crashing into her coop.
—PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025
The attack upended check-in desk operations and boarding information for flights in major airports such as London Heathrow and Brussels.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Those routines were upended in October 2023, after Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upended
Verb
-
The Chiefs defeated the Lions 30-17 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, improving to an even 3-3 with the victory.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Series history Tennessee snapped a 4-game losing streak in the series against Arkansas and defeated the Razorbacks for the first time since a 34-13 decision at Neyland Stadium in 2007.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Two temporary stands were erected and the general public were able to get up close to the runways and shot put ring.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
While stadiums and luxury hotels are erected, hospitals remain overcrowded and rural areas underserved.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The researchers overcame traditional size limitations by embedding thin but powerful actuators that respond to heat and pressure.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Kobe also fouled out at the end, and the Bobcats overcame his remarkable effort with a balanced attack.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Trent and Amber wed in 1998, and the couple raised their five kids in Forsyth, Ga.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The entrepreneur and yoga instructor has previously spoken out about facing criticism over the authenticity of her Spanish accent (she was raised bilingual).—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Trump mastered it decades ago, on The Apprentice.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Quince has mastered the art of layering pieces.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
All mandatory evacuations were lifted Sunday, but low-lying areas and residences along the river remain on pre-evacuation orders.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
13 Oct. 2025
-
So when the moratorium was lifted, a wave of eviction notices followed.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With the Chiefs facing fourth-and-3 inside the 10-yard-line, kicker Harrison Butker took a couple of steps off the sideline before Reid waved him back.—
Sam McDowell
October 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Henninger took her concerns to the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed suit in April, saying the administration's actions violated the First Amendment.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Numerous law enforcement resources from across the state of Tennessee have been dispatched to assist in the investigation, a source familiar told CNN.—
Caroll Alvarado,
CNN Money,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Kowalski's call was not immediately dispatched to the police searching for Denise.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upended. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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