upset 1 of 3

upset

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verb

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2
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upset

3 of 3

noun

as in disruption
an act or instance of the order of things being disturbed the move to a new town is just the latest in a series of upsets for my family over the last year

Synonyms & Similar Words

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an upset child
an unhappy child
an agitated child
an emotional child
a distraught child
a perturbed child
upset customers
unhappy customers
displeased customers
unsatisfied customers
outraged customers
angry customers
an upset stomach
a sour stomach
an irritable stomach
an unsettled stomach
an uneasy stomach
a sick stomach

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb upset contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of upset are agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, fluster, and perturb. While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.

the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

When is it sensible to use agitate instead of upset?

While the synonyms agitate and upset are close in meaning, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

In what contexts can discompose take the place of upset?

Although the words discompose and upset have much in common, discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.

discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

When can disquiet be used instead of upset?

The synonyms disquiet and upset are sometimes interchangeable, but disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

When might disturb be a better fit than upset?

In some situations, the words disturb and upset are roughly equivalent. However, disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

When could fluster be used to replace upset?

The words fluster and upset are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

When would perturb be a good substitute for upset?

The meanings of perturb and upset largely overlap; however, perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

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 upset
Adjective
However, there have still been some vocal fans who are upset with changes made from the original, including completely cutting a character and making a significant change to the original movie's ending. Jeremy Hanna, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025 The most common side effects of magnesium supplements are upset stomach and diarrhea.6 The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (TUL) for magnesium is 350 mg for adults. Karen Berger, Verywell Health, 30 May 2025
Verb
The May 21 shooting stemmed from a male customer being upset with his food, deputies said in an arrest warrant. Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 26 May 2025 Nixon’s dramatic 1972 trip to China had upset the relative balance of power between free nations and the communist bloc that had prevailed for 20 years. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
Noun
But after the Knicks, Nuggets and Warriors joined Indiana in pulling Game 1 upsets, the Celtics have a chance to reassert themselves tonight at TD Garden. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025 The six-part series will unravel the thrill of the victory and the agony of defeat across six decades of larger-than-life athletes, intense rivalries and stunning upsets that encapsulate the command sports have on our cultural attention. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for upset
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upset
Adjective
  • However, because the pool was shallow, Lisberg was less worried.
    Raven Brunner, People.com, 25 May 2025
  • There are signs that some in Israel are worried about the consequences of its actions in Gaza.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • These trends are causing 67% of the workforce to worry about the economy’s impact on their current jobs, according to the Workforce Pulse Survey from Remote.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • But don't worry about binoculars, don't worry about taking a picture.
    Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • Foreign universities want to hire them May 25, 2025 The suit also seeks to overturn the Trump administration’s 15% cap on indirect costs related to research, which universities say are critical to carrying out their work.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
  • The suit, which hopes to overturn the law, argues that the city’s ordinance violates the First Amendment and does not apply to other forms of speech, like a political candidate asking for support or a church member proselytizing.
    Vivienne Serret, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • Despite the sharp decline in sales, Capri’s inventories were up 1 percent at the end of the quarter, reflecting $60 million of goods that were brought in earlier than planned in a sourcing landscape that’s been disrupted by President Donald Trump’s trade war.
    Evan Clark, Footwear News, 28 May 2025
  • What Could Move The Market? Several factors could disrupt the current market calm: European Tariff Deadline: President Trump has postponed the implementation of a 50% tariff on European Union goods to July 9, 2025.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • Because the future of work won’t belong to those who never face disruption.
    Andrew Fennell, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • Lee was called up to the Raw brand in August 2020 but faced disruptions due to health issues, including a severe bout with COVID-19 and subsequent heart inflammation, which kept him sidelined for a significant period.
    Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • The price of gold tends to move when markets get nervous – and so does the gold.
    Ken Roberts, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • It should also be noted that Demings is more than a little nervous right now about making any public promises about helping to finance a baseball stadium.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Beaches aren’t typically hotspots for these kinds of fossils unless something is disturbing the seafloor nearby and carrying the remains to shore.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • However, some 3,000 years ago—around the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age—newcomers to the area disturbed the burial site by removing parts of the mound and displacing stones.
    Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Their raft capsized, plunging them into a violent, raging current just upstream from its most perilous stretch.
    Margie Warrell, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
  • And, while his long spells out this season with two different hamstring injuries effectively capsized Spurs’ Premier League campaign, his return from injury has been integral to Spurs’ progress to the Europa League final.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Upset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upset. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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