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 Short of a political upheaval, which is unlikely as long as Putin remains in office, Russia retains sovereignty on paper while quietly becoming a semi-vassal whose room for maneuver narrows by the year. — Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Produced by Meath and Sanborn, the album is said to pair environmental dread and personal upheaval with ecstatic dance music. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 21 July 2026 For comedian Jeff Arcuri, 2025 brought an uncommon level of emotional upheaval, presenting stunning turns, high highs, and very low lows. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 20 July 2026 While retrograde, the transformation and upheaval brought on by Pluto is all the more reflective and introspective, encouraging us to reconsider our role within communities and social networks. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for upheaval

Recent Examples of Synonyms for upheaval

Noun

Protesters have been calling for accountability after allegations entrance exams to esteemed medical schools had been leaked and sold, with the unrest led by a youth campaign known as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
Los Angeles was the site of significant unrest following raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

— Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Definition of unrest

Noun

First, a Reuters report discusses electricity suppliers needed to cover new global data centers (which has created its own revolution).

— Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
By the 1960s, both Holman and Clift were too deeply scarred to benefit from the decade’s social revolutions.

— Mya Copeland, Variety, 23 July 2026

Definition of revolution

Noun

The earthquake's epicenter was about 10 miles northwest of Westmorland and occurred at a depth of 2 miles.

— CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
Learning from others Other countries that have experienced higher magnitude earthquakes with less damage, can serve as models to follow, Martinez Cruzado said.

— Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026

Definition of earthquake

Noun

So then this kind of social turmoil also with the economic turmoil, inflation was really, really high for a number of years in the '90s.

— Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
First signs of turmoil emerged in July last year, when LuisaViaRoma revealed plans to streamline its business operations by shutting its unit and office in Milan.

— Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 July 2026

Definition of turmoil

Noun

Andrew Garfield trades modern superheroes for medieval revolution in the trailer for The Uprising, Paul Greengrass’ historical drama inspired by England’s 1381 peasant revolt.

— Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026
See The Sight Of John Brown's Raid Near the rivers sits the original armory guard house, where in 1859, abolitionist John Brown led a legendary but ultimately unsuccessful slave revolt.

— Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 July 2026

Definition of revolt

Noun

Writer, historian, and activist Rebecca Solnit is the author of more than twenty-five books on feminism, western and urban history, popular power, social change and insurrection, wandering and walking, hope and catastrophe.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
The 14th Amendment’s foundational principles include birthright citizenship, due process, equal protection under the law, and the prohibition for heads of state to engage in acts of insurrection.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 July 2026

Definition of insurrection

Noun

This uprising of students at the Athens Polytechnic University and their famous pirate-radio broadcasts are commonly understood to be the beginning of the end of the junta.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Pride events are held today in San Diego to honor the Stonewall uprising of 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City and patrons fought back in a dayslong confrontation.

— Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026

Definition of uprising

Noun

The storm system that caused historic flooding in West Virginia Tuesday into Wednesday and wreaked havoc from the Ohio Valley to the East Coast will linger across Virginia and the Southeast through the end of the week.

— Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
Onlookers watched the storm surge at the Lake Pontchartrain estuary, with kids splashing in the floodwaters as Bertha approached the Louisiana Coast.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026

Definition of storm

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“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheaval. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of upheaval

noun

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