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
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Recent Examples of upheavals
Not only have students been impacted by political upheavals in higher education, but faculty members have faced an unpredictable professional landscape as well.
—
Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The drama about a Turkish college professor facing major upheavals on two home fronts bowed at Sundance and stars Ekin Koc, Erkan Kolçak Kostendil, Hazar Erguclu and Ercan Kesal.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2025
Entirely outside the symbolic order, nature goes about its business, taking no notice of our seemingly momentous upheavals, our dumb travails.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Barra's leadership — and close collaboration with longtime professional partner, GM President Mark Reuss — has seen the automaker through upheavals ranging from a global pandemic to an administration undoing decades of trade, energy and environmental policy.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
However, as California became dominated by one party and the Capitol press corps shrank due to upheavals in media industries, secrecy became more entrenched.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
However, as California became dominated by one party and the Capitol press corps shrank due to upheavals in media industries, secrecy became more entrenched.
—Dan Walters, Oc Register, 13 Aug. 2025
Barra's leadership — and close collaboration with longtime professional partner, GM President Mark Reuss — has seen the automaker through upheavals ranging from a global pandemic to an administration undoing decades of trade, energy and environmental policy.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Just as the original practitioners were coping with the fallout of World War I, their successors—including Diane Arbus, Yayoi Kusama, and Lee Bontecou—were responding to the societal upheavals of the Vietnam era.
—Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2025
Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The drama about a Turkish college professor facing major upheavals on two home fronts bowed at Sundance and stars Ekin Koc, Erkan Kolçak Kostendil, Hazar Erguclu and Ercan Kesal.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2025
Entirely outside the symbolic order, nature goes about its business, taking no notice of our seemingly momentous upheavals, our dumb travails.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Barra's leadership — and close collaboration with longtime professional partner, GM President Mark Reuss — has seen the automaker through upheavals ranging from a global pandemic to an administration undoing decades of trade, energy and environmental policy.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
However, as California became dominated by one party and the Capitol press corps shrank due to upheavals in media industries, secrecy became more entrenched.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
However, as California became dominated by one party and the Capitol press corps shrank due to upheavals in media industries, secrecy became more entrenched.
—Dan Walters, Oc Register, 13 Aug. 2025
Barra's leadership — and close collaboration with longtime professional partner, GM President Mark Reuss — has seen the automaker through upheavals ranging from a global pandemic to an administration undoing decades of trade, energy and environmental policy.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Just as the original practitioners were coping with the fallout of World War I, their successors—including Diane Arbus, Yayoi Kusama, and Lee Bontecou—were responding to the societal upheavals of the Vietnam era.
—Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upheavals
Noun
-
Just as past technological revolutions redefined work – from the mechanization of farming to the rise of industrial factories – AI is reshaping the task structure of modern employment.—
Steven Dudash,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The drone revolutions In the early 2000s, Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Armed Forces had no experience with drone technology.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
However, large earthquakes can strike on active faults thousands of years apart.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Because of the revolts, Compton says, drumming and African spiritual practices were eventually criminalized in the colonies.—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Rolling Stone,
23 Aug. 2025
-
The Russian Empire would also crush revolts organized by the Crimean Tatars, which saw Russia gain control over the peninsula.—
Mark Temnycky,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The president can also legally invoke the military under the Insurrection Act, which allows troops to be deployed in order to curb insurrections.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The riot in Milwaukee, one of scores of uprisings around the United States during the summer of 1967, triggered a citywide lockdown, brought the National Guard — and laid bare the city's racial divide.—
Chris Foran,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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The Dalai Lama has been the key figure quelling violence when grassroots dissatisfaction has escalated into episodic uprisings in Tibet.—
Tenzin Dorjee,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
According to the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, the average Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, sees 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes—categories 3, 4, and 5.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
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Friday’s widespread storms that served up floods and gridlock to afternoon commuters from the Keys to Coral Gables should begin to taper off as people head back out for a night on the town.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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
Noun
-
For more severe and potentially life-threatening infections, symptoms may include headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
-
An hour later, Bradley Fullerton’s cellmate sought help because Fullerton was having convulsions, according to the filing.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upheavals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheavals. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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