1
as in defeating
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 erecting
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 upending
And upending the global supply chain has proven costly for businesses and households that are already strained by rising prices.
—
ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Indiana beating the Miami Heat and Toronto upending Orlando means the Hornets remain in 10th place in the conference.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Economic and consumer confidence plummeted in Europe in March, according to official data released on Monday, in the latest evidence of how the Iran war is upending growth and inflation expectations.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
The defense secretary is upending decades-old norms, current and former leaders say, with some cautioning that his proselytizing violates the Constitution and undermines troop cohesion.
—Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2026
The Houthi rebels attacked over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones from November 2023 until January 2025, upending shipping in this waterway in the western side of the Arabian Peninsula, key for the passage of goods through the region.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 28 Mar. 2026
Just three days before Selection Sunday in March of 2020, the NCAA announced that March Madness, like so many other events that spring, would be cancelled due to the new virus upending life.
—Shari Rudavsky, IndyStar, 27 Mar. 2026
Livermore and Oakland reached 91 degrees, upending Livermore’s previous record of 90 set last year and Oakland’s previous record of 89 set earlier this week.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2026
But Iran’s attacks on ships using the strait that are not its own have stopped that supply of oil, even fertilizer, upending those and other markets around the world.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Indiana beating the Miami Heat and Toronto upending Orlando means the Hornets remain in 10th place in the conference.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Economic and consumer confidence plummeted in Europe in March, according to official data released on Monday, in the latest evidence of how the Iran war is upending growth and inflation expectations.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
The defense secretary is upending decades-old norms, current and former leaders say, with some cautioning that his proselytizing violates the Constitution and undermines troop cohesion.
—Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2026
The Houthi rebels attacked over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones from November 2023 until January 2025, upending shipping in this waterway in the western side of the Arabian Peninsula, key for the passage of goods through the region.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 28 Mar. 2026
Just three days before Selection Sunday in March of 2020, the NCAA announced that March Madness, like so many other events that spring, would be cancelled due to the new virus upending life.
—Shari Rudavsky, IndyStar, 27 Mar. 2026
Livermore and Oakland reached 91 degrees, upending Livermore’s previous record of 90 set last year and Oakland’s previous record of 89 set earlier this week.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2026
But Iran’s attacks on ships using the strait that are not its own have stopped that supply of oil, even fertilizer, upending those and other markets around the world.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upending
Verb
-
Austin Hays also hit a three-run home run for the Sox, who collected their first win of the season by defeating the Miami Marlins 9-4 in front of 6,515 at loanDepot park.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
New York looked terrific, allowing just a single run over three games, defeating the Giants 7-0, 3-0, and 3-1.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Neighbors said King retaliated by erecting a floodlight directed at the neighbor’s house, along with blasting loud music.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The Washington Consensus was traditionally wary of developing countries picking winners and losers, erecting trade barriers and subsidizing favored industries.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Applicants must write an essay that reflects a background of overcoming adversity, such as growing up in a low-income setting or losing a parent.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Waring and Woodland are both in the midst of overcoming big obstacles of a different nature.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But the arc — first raising expectations for a big reveal, then declaring there was nothing to see, and ultimately a forced, flawed document dump — was a stubbornly problematic storyline that ran through her time as attorney general.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Despite recent rain and snow in Northern California, state water officials say the Sierra snowpack remains near historic lows, raising concerns about water availability during the hot summer months.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For years, women in Israel committed themselves to rigorous Torah scholarship, mastering complex halachic material and serving their communities as teachers and spiritual leaders, yet were barred from even attempting the state rabbinate exams.—
Rabba Sara Hurwitz,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
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After mastering waterbending in Season 1, Aang will turn to earthbending in Season 2, while evading the evil Fire Nation and Prince Zuko.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Cameron House is dreamy, in part for its location and breath-taking views and in part for its blend of baronial grandeur and modern luxury.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Fort Worth Southwest Christian senior Lara Langford, a UMass-Boston signee, hurled four innings striking out four and giving up five runs in taking the loss.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After beating Atlanta last Friday without Jaylen Brown and Charlotte on Sunday without Brown and Derrick White, Boston flopped in a rematch with the Hawks, losing 112-102 without a crew of contributors headlined by a resting Jayson Tatum.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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Lawson’s Blue Devils relished their March Madness at the downtown arena on Friday night, a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the corner by Ashlon Jackson to stun storied LSU in a Sweet 16 contest.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While disagreement remains over its necessity, Porter County E911 will begin dispatching police calls for the towns of Chesterton and Porter Wednesday amid improved relations between the towns and county.—
Shelley Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The 21-year-old British southpaw had been dispatching opponents early — none of his previous nine opponents had made it through two rounds.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Upending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upending. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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