Thesaurus results for UPHEAVAL

upheaval

noun

ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl

Definition of upheaval

as in unrest

a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) the government can no longer control the social upheaval brought about by the collapse of the country's economy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of upheaval Tariff upheaval has roiled trading relationships on a global scale, but an ongoing dialogue is taking place between brands and their suppliers. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 4 Aug. 2026 These supply-chain upheavals have mounted pressures on certain industries like aviation, where jet fuel costs have soared, and agriculture, which has dealt with shortages of key chemicals used in fertilizers as a result of Strait of Hormuz closures. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 On the eve of his seventh season coaching Mizzou football, Eli Drinkwitz on Sunday thought about how his tenure has coincided with an era of upheaval in college sports. — Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 3 Aug. 2026 El-Sayed is promising wholesale change to politics, a progressive upheaval of traditionalist incrementalism, an outsiders’ indifference to tradition. — Philip Elliott, Time, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for upheaval

Recent Examples of Synonyms for upheaval

Noun

The killing sparked nationwide unrest, with cartel members erecting highway blockades and setting fire to vehicles and buildings across 20 Mexican states.

— CBS News, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Haiti is on the State Department’s do not travel list — owing to such hazards as crime, kidnapping, terrorism and unrest.

— Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

Definition of unrest

Noun

In Aleppo, which is 220 miles northwest of Damascus, a kind man sitting next to me at dinner casually recounted how he and his wife—both were jailed for opposing Assad during the revolution—had survived.

— Lina Sergie Attar, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
Most of us aren’t looking to enact a wholesale job title revolution, but Deloitte’s pivot raises some practical implications for leaders.

— Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of revolution

Noun

What began as one employee's devastating loss quickly grew into a community-wide effort to help earthquake victims in Venezuela.

— Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Venezuela’s fragile health care system had been deteriorating for years before two powerful earthquakes rattled the South American nation last month, killing more than 5,000 people and further exacerbating its ongoing health crisis.

— Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 31 July 2026

Definition of earthquake

Noun

With even the trial date itself in dispute and Gulf sovereign funds backing much of the equity amid regional turmoil, the Ellisons may have won the bidding war only to inherit a much costlier fight.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
The waltz seemed to leave his heart in turmoil without lifting his spirits.

— Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of turmoil

Noun

The disparities from slavery to Jim Crow continue to haunt Black life and have fueled Black insurrection.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
Commentators such as Canadian journalist and filmmaker Paul Jay, founder and former CEO of The Real News Network, have described the 2021 insurrection as a dry run for future attempts to subvert American democracy.

— James Robenalt, Vanity Fair, 27 July 2026

Definition of insurrection

Noun

Bartholomew Port, an Irish writer living in London, returns to his homeland to participate in a literary festival, and arrives on the eve of a populist uprising.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Netanyahu still believes that regime change is necessary and hopes to achieve that goal by laying the groundwork for an uprising.

— Margaret Brennan, CBS News, 30 July 2026

Definition of uprising

Noun

Friday will be more active with more widespread coverage of showers and storms.

— Katie Houlis, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
The Storm Prediction Center, part of the National Weather Service, has placed central and eastern Missouri at a marginal risk (level 1 of 5) of severe storms.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of storm

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upheaval

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“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheaval. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of upheaval

noun

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