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
But land does offer a hedge against inflation, diversification against economic upheavals, and provides a certainty that isn’t available with assets whose value can evaporate in a short time span, like Washington Mutual or Enron.
—
Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
Last year, the global development sector faced enormous upheavals, with the United States and other donor countries slashing aid budgets even as low-income countries struggled with debt burdens.
—Reem Alabali Radovan, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
But mistakes are almost inevitable given the extraordinary turbulence created by the pandemic and the associated government response (as well as the current policy upheavals).
—Raghuram Rajan, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Today’s young men came of age on the social internet, during the upheavals of COVID-19, and under the political dominance of the most narcissistic and superficial president in American history.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
Russia is attempting to reassert its relevance after failing to support a series of allies who fell to internal or external upheavals.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 18 Jan. 2026
Shannon drew a surprising comparison to the political upheavals of 1968.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
These are among the many questions posed by Simon Morrison’s sprawling biography of place, which seeks to understand a nation through the life of its largest city, tracing Moscow’s evolution via dozens of historical upheavals, from war, famine, drought, and much, much more.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Evans’ historic eight terms as the first Black chief judge saw the county through reforms, changes and upheavals including the elimination of cash bail and the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
Last year, the global development sector faced enormous upheavals, with the United States and other donor countries slashing aid budgets even as low-income countries struggled with debt burdens.
—Reem Alabali Radovan, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
But mistakes are almost inevitable given the extraordinary turbulence created by the pandemic and the associated government response (as well as the current policy upheavals).
—Raghuram Rajan, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Today’s young men came of age on the social internet, during the upheavals of COVID-19, and under the political dominance of the most narcissistic and superficial president in American history.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
Russia is attempting to reassert its relevance after failing to support a series of allies who fell to internal or external upheavals.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 18 Jan. 2026
Shannon drew a surprising comparison to the political upheavals of 1968.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
These are among the many questions posed by Simon Morrison’s sprawling biography of place, which seeks to understand a nation through the life of its largest city, tracing Moscow’s evolution via dozens of historical upheavals, from war, famine, drought, and much, much more.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Evans’ historic eight terms as the first Black chief judge saw the county through reforms, changes and upheavals including the elimination of cash bail and the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upheavals
Noun
-
The anti-ICE mobilization that unfolded around the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last week mirrored the methods used to overthrow governments and spark bloody revolutions around the globe, according to a Fox News Digital analysis.—
Asra Q. Nomani , Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Gramophone records spun at 78 revolutions per minute.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
One unique characteristic of Michigan earthquakes is their reach.—
Ahmad Bajjey,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The ticker might jump on news of a political abduction, distant revolts, or threats over Arctic resources, but the underlying story remains the same.—
Tim Treadgold,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The society’s equilibrium has been profoundly disrupted and can easily tip into escalating popular revolts and open elite resistance, producing a revolution.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Unlike coups or insurrections, which are swift and explicit, modern democratic backsliding is often incremental.—
Helena Carpio,
Time,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The 1807 measure allows the president to deploy members of the military or federalize state National Guard members to contain insurrections.—
Sarah Davis,
The Hill,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
So, at the heart of these uprisings in 2022, and even before that, women played a central role in seeking justice and trying to push towards greater freedoms.—
Maggie McGrath,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Iran has experienced many communications blackouts in the immediate aftermath of uprisings but never anything like the current one.—
Talla Mountjoy,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Airport workers were digging out of feet-high snow drifts and de-icing equipment after one of the most powerful winter storms in years, which led to the largest cancellation day for air travel since March 2020 on Sunday.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Organizations recommend checking their websites or contacting them directly before donating items, as storage space and immediate needs can change rapidly during winter storms.—
Cheyenne Derksen,
Oklahoman,
27 Jan. 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
-
For nearly a millennia and half, even in the centuries when physicians were beginning to supplant priests in treating the ill, epileptic convulsions (unexpected, frightening, enigmatic) remained the territory of the priest.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Formed in England in the mid-1600s, the Religious Society of Friends became known for the tremors and convulsions that would overtake its members during prayer.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Upheavals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheavals. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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