as in revolutions
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 upheavals
The rule, adopted before the 2020 season but not implemented until this year due to the upheavals caused by the coronavirus pandemic, states that a team cannot use a position player on the mound unless there is a difference of six or more runs between the two teams.
—
Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Crocodilian ancestors have persisted through mass extinctions, dramatic climate shifts and ecological upheavals that have eradicated countless other lineages.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Then, in the wake of 1968’s political upheavals, both artists redirected their attention toward social systems—producing the work they’re best known for today.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 May 2026
For nearly two decades, soccer coach Patrice Millet has used the game to help children from some of Haiti’s poorest neighborhoods find refuge from their country’s upheavals.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
Polyploidy may help species survive such upheavals.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 19 May 2026
This year has been marked by major political upheavals, armed conflicts, cultural milestones, and memorable moments in sports.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
My mother reported her friends’ upheavals to me matter-of-factly.
—Jennifer Acker, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
In a season-long arc, Gallagher will play Rod Finlayson, a charismatic, uber-independent, capable yet unreliable figure, whose arrival at the Gibsons’ marina on his beloved boat sets up a sequence of upheavals that Alberg and Cassandra will have to grapple with.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 7 May 2026
Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Crocodilian ancestors have persisted through mass extinctions, dramatic climate shifts and ecological upheavals that have eradicated countless other lineages.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Then, in the wake of 1968’s political upheavals, both artists redirected their attention toward social systems—producing the work they’re best known for today.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 May 2026
For nearly two decades, soccer coach Patrice Millet has used the game to help children from some of Haiti’s poorest neighborhoods find refuge from their country’s upheavals.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
Polyploidy may help species survive such upheavals.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 19 May 2026
This year has been marked by major political upheavals, armed conflicts, cultural milestones, and memorable moments in sports.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
My mother reported her friends’ upheavals to me matter-of-factly.
—Jennifer Acker, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
In a season-long arc, Gallagher will play Rod Finlayson, a charismatic, uber-independent, capable yet unreliable figure, whose arrival at the Gibsons’ marina on his beloved boat sets up a sequence of upheavals that Alberg and Cassandra will have to grapple with.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upheavals
Noun
-
Major technological revolutions often prompt doubts about whether existing economic measures can keep up.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
Fonseca’s topspin forehand averages more than 3,000 revolutions per minute (RPM).—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
-
The administration says the project is necessary to protect water deliveries for 27 million Californians and roughly 750,000 acres of farmland while improving reliability during earthquakes and extreme storm systems.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Starmer also has angered supporters with attempts to cut welfare spending, some of which were reversed after Labour revolts.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
-
Then came revolts and revolutions in Ireland, the Swiss cantons, the Rhineland, the Netherlands, the Italian states, and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
There were rebellions, insurrections and an Appian Way lined with crucifixions.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But the regime, besieged by insurrections across the country, abandoned Manbij.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Hadi became president in 2012 after the resignation of longtime leader Ali Abdullah Saleh during the Arab Spring uprisings.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
-
Dipke also took pains to distance the movement from comparisons to violent Gen Z uprisings in Nepal and Bangladesh, saying the CJP would maintain peaceful dissent within the bounds of the Constitution of India.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
Both items are nice to have in Arizona, where AC units run hard through summer and monsoon storms can leave roofs in need of repair.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
-
The English musician was still getting the hang of the ever-changing nature of New York summer weather — which this past weekend included a fair share of flash storms — but was in high spirits nonetheless.—
Leigh Nordstrom,
Footwear News,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
About two couples, connected and dependent on one another, raising their kids alongside each other, facing the same turmoils, the same existential questions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Mayer and Strong offer a broad pop-history lesson, in which the same tensions and turmoils churn on and on in their terrible cycle throughout the decades; the only thing that’s changed are the aesthetics.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Noun
-
There is no end to the impotent convulsions of an empire in decline.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
9 June 2026
-
Gary McHugh went into convulsions.—
Jerry Shnay,
Chicago Tribune,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Upheavals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheavals. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
