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
Over the course of the twentieth century, with its endless economic and political upheavals, the numbers of both people and reindeer in the camp have dwindled.
—
Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Epic survived upheavals in 1990’s with the move from 2D to 3D with Unreal 1; in the 2000’s building console games with Gears of War; and in 2012 moving to online gaming with Paragon and Fortnite.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
The square is also a symbol of South Korea’s young, resilient democracy, the site of massive rallies in times of political upheavals in recent years.
—ABC News, 18 Mar. 2026
The fundamental sources of our troubles, going back half a century, are economic inequality, political paralysis, corruption, mass immigration, and cultural and technological upheavals.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
This year’s Oscars, the 98th edition, will also unfold with the country at war in the Middle East, but despite that symmetry, rewatching the 2003 telecast today is to be reminded of just how radically the culture of Hollywood has been altered by the political upheavals of the early aughts.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
At a planning board meeting in January, an opponent of One Boca cited the upheavals of the last century and asked how anyone could approve a long-term plan given the uncertainty the next hundred years may bring.
—Jason Haber, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
So Old So Young by Grant Ginder Over twenty years and five parties, six college friends reunite again and again, believing their bond will outlast the upheavals of adulthood.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
There have been other owners since, an unsuccessful switch to nonprofit status, staff upheavals, and changes in format and frequency of publishing.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Epic survived upheavals in 1990’s with the move from 2D to 3D with Unreal 1; in the 2000’s building console games with Gears of War; and in 2012 moving to online gaming with Paragon and Fortnite.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
The square is also a symbol of South Korea’s young, resilient democracy, the site of massive rallies in times of political upheavals in recent years.
—ABC News, 18 Mar. 2026
The fundamental sources of our troubles, going back half a century, are economic inequality, political paralysis, corruption, mass immigration, and cultural and technological upheavals.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
This year’s Oscars, the 98th edition, will also unfold with the country at war in the Middle East, but despite that symmetry, rewatching the 2003 telecast today is to be reminded of just how radically the culture of Hollywood has been altered by the political upheavals of the early aughts.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
At a planning board meeting in January, an opponent of One Boca cited the upheavals of the last century and asked how anyone could approve a long-term plan given the uncertainty the next hundred years may bring.
—Jason Haber, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
So Old So Young by Grant Ginder Over twenty years and five parties, six college friends reunite again and again, believing their bond will outlast the upheavals of adulthood.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
There have been other owners since, an unsuccessful switch to nonprofit status, staff upheavals, and changes in format and frequency of publishing.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upheavals
Noun
-
As is true of many revolutions in flowering plants, some seagrass lineages doubled then edited entire genomes.—
David George Haskell,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Beginning with folk roots, and inspired by Bob Dylan going electric, the Grateful Dead continually adapted and evolved and became indelibly linked with both of the revolutions which began in San Francisco in the post-WW2 period.—
Mike Hanlon
March 22,
New Atlas,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The book gives us fresh and fascinating insight into a woman whose study of the waves from earthquakes led to a new understanding of what lies at the very center of our planet.—
Carol Sutton Lewis,
Scientific American,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After enduring a series of mini-revolts from fans criticizing last spring’s casting announcement and December’s first-look trailer, Survivor 50 has gotten off to an encouraging start.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Almost immediately Rome was plunged into a series of wars, revolts, and plagues.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
11 Mar. 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
-
The Arab Spring uprisings of 2011-12 owe much of their origin to a youth bulge in the Middle East.—
John Rennie Short,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
-
But like many political uprisings, the meaning of No Kings varies from protester to protester.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Even minor changes in clouds, wind or storms can force delays, especially for a mission of this scale.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
For people living along the coast, sand also defends against intense storms and sea level rise fueled by climate change.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 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
-
The country, meanwhile, was experiencing a series of convulsions.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Brain swelling from encephalitis can lead to convulsions, permanent hearing loss, intellectual disability and death, according to the CDC.—
Kristen Jordan Shamus,
Freep.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Upheavals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheavals. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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