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
Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 27 Oct. 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
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
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
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Johnson, Evans and Pascal – and while certainly thoughtful, the film's strengths are upended by a mood-murdering melancholy.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
That is now being upended, Jason Bordoff and Meghan O’Sullivan argue in Foreign Affairs.
—John Kerry, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Told from four different perspectives, the book is a family dramedy about a young man with Down Syndrome, his parents and his teenaged sister — and how their lives are upended when Hollywood decides to adapt their story into a film.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
China’s extraordinary rise in science over the past three decades and its arrival as the United States’ chief technological competitor has upended conventional wisdom that innovation can thrive only in liberal democracies.
—Kenneth M. Evans, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
The Steelers upended the Colts.
—Torrey Hart, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Once the war began, however, our lives were upended.
—Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
But then a strike upended the team’s World Series run and the season came to a halt.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Instead, Trump upended trade negotiations with Canada after a television ad with the voice of former President Ronald Reagan talking about tariffs.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 27 Oct. 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
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
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
Verb
That did not happen, but things need to be upended in 2026.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Johnson, Evans and Pascal – and while certainly thoughtful, the film's strengths are upended by a mood-murdering melancholy.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
That is now being upended, Jason Bordoff and Meghan O’Sullivan argue in Foreign Affairs.
—John Kerry, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Told from four different perspectives, the book is a family dramedy about a young man with Down Syndrome, his parents and his teenaged sister — and how their lives are upended when Hollywood decides to adapt their story into a film.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
China’s extraordinary rise in science over the past three decades and its arrival as the United States’ chief technological competitor has upended conventional wisdom that innovation can thrive only in liberal democracies.
—Kenneth M. Evans, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
The Steelers upended the Colts.
—Torrey Hart, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Once the war began, however, our lives were upended.
—Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
But then a strike upended the team’s World Series run and the season came to a halt.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 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
-
The tent was a remnant of the structures erected by the United Nations High Command for Refugees to provide shade for migrants, Dumasá said.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The end of a building erected in the 1940s?—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Mamdani overcame on the campaign trail to become NYC's next mayor.—
,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
After the win, Gilgeous-Alexander shared the minor adversity that the team overcame after falling behind early in this contest.—
Ricardo Sandoval,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
While much emphasis has been placed on how important the trades are for the work force, adult education programs faced a federal funding freeze, albeit briefly, this summer that raised concerns about the future of vocational schools.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Citymeals on Wheels welcomes all to Power Lunch because every single dollar raised will provide meals and connections for our older neighbors.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
11 Nov. 2025
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
-
Whoever dispatched that ambulance might be one of many employees at the Department of Emergency Communications who have felt uncomfortable, yelled at and trapped between their calling to help people and what several current and former dispatchers have called a hostile work environment.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Beginning in 2010, Bochy rode the mother of all hot streaks while his teams, usually considered the underdog, dispatched 14 of 15 playoff opponents.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Having conquered the pop world with ease, Rosalía is now embracing difficulty.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
-
And some fears really can be conquered.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upended. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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