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
Relevance
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
Tucked into San Francisco’s legendary Haight-Ashbury district, the Counterculture Museum invites you to relive the radical spirit of the 1960s—where psychedelic art, protest posters, and vintage vinyl trace a decade of rebellion, creativity, and cultural upheaval.
—
Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The participants were born between 1880 and 1957, and some of them lived through several wars and periods of social upheaval in Finland that could have impacted both their health and their opportunities to have children.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 22 Jan. 2026
Points to Sullivan for admitting the Dolphins’ QB room is wrought with upheaval; my words, not his.
—Greg Cote
january 22, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Over the past 150 years, these companies survived industrial upheaval, world wars, and massive technological shifts by repeatedly reinventing themselves.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The participants were born between 1880 and 1957, and some of them lived through several wars and periods of social upheaval in Finland that could have impacted both their health and their opportunities to have children.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 22 Jan. 2026
Points to Sullivan for admitting the Dolphins’ QB room is wrought with upheaval; my words, not his.
—Greg Cote
january 22, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Over the past 150 years, these companies survived industrial upheaval, world wars, and massive technological shifts by repeatedly reinventing themselves.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upheaval
Noun
-
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has repeatedly blamed foreign enemies for unrest while backing the IRGC’s response.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding the 1979 revolution that brought the Islamic Republic into being.—
Elena Becatoros,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The young republic’s survival hinged on distancing itself from a Europe convulsed by revolution and war.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
One early muse-like figure is Martin Luther, who in 1524 sparked a revolution by challenging the church’s influence on commerce.—
Valerie L. Myers,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The chain works on projects requires following natural disasters in California, including the 1994 Northridge earthquake, which left 57 people dead and more than 9,000 injured.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Built between the late 1800s and early 1900s, these architectural gems survived the 1906 earthquake and flourished as symbols of endurance.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
After Vance's visit, Walz said the federal government was to blame for the turmoil.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The ensuing political turmoil and power vacuum in the country tarnished its international image and rattled its diplomacy and financial markets.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Red Sox Nation was in full revolt when Bregman signed elsewhere – and for good reason.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Today’s revolt is the predictable result of permanent refusal to adapt and change.—
Ali Vaez,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Google, Microsoft and Meta (then Facebook), paused their political spending in the wake of the insurrection.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
If the goal is to trigger unruly public unrest to justify presidential invocation of the insurrection act as some charge, why not visit the spirited crowds at WWE instead.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Promoted domestically as a tale of peasant uprising, the film later became a cult curiosity abroad, often mocked for its special effects but recognized as one of the country’s most technically ambitious productions.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
-
This is because monetary policy utterly lacks the excitement of battles or uprisings and the drama of high-level diplomacy.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
While preparing for the storm ahead, here's what to know about keeping your body in shape, and safe, while clearing winter weather.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
21 Jan. 2026
-
This large winter storm will take shape over the southern plains later this week.—
Tammie Souza,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheaval. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
