Synonyms of upset

upset 1 of 3

adjective

(ˌ)əp-ˈset 

as in worried

feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty

she was upset by the unexplained change in plans

Synonyms & Similar Words

• worried
• nervous
• anxious
• uneasy
• troubled
• apprehensive
• concerned
• perturbed
• disturbed
• bothered
• uptight
• flustered
• ill at ease
• tense
• hesitant
• distraught
• queasy
• jittery
• insecure
• queazy
• jumpy
• on edge
• freaked
• obsessed
• on tenterhooks
• on pins and needles
• preoccupied
• aggrieved
• antsy
• goosey
• het up
• unquiet
• edgy
• distressed
• nervy
• dithery
• restless
• disquieted
• hinky
• vexed
• aflutter
• atwitter
• keyed up
• shook-up
• hung up
• fretful
• unnerved
• fretting
• freaked-out
• foreboding
• misgiving
• fidgety
• unstrung
• qualmish
• undone
• high-strung
• fluttery
• qualmy
• stewing
• spooky
• skittish
• twittered
• hypertense
• flighty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• calm
• collected
• cool
• relaxed
• sure
• confident
• nerveless
• controlled
• happy-go-lucky
• self-assured
• self-confident
• self-controlled

upset

2 of 3

verb

(ˌ)əp-ˈset 

1

as in to worry

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

the smallest things can upset us if we're already stressed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• worry
• disturb
• bother
• concern
• alarm
• distract
• anger
• agitate
• unsettle
• annoy
• distress
• discomfort
• dismay
• irritate
• derail
• confuse
• disquiet
• haunt
• plague
• perturb
• embarrass
• fuss
• discompose
• undo
• flurry
• ail
• exercise
• unhinge
• freak (out)
• weird out
• rattle
• aggravate
• irk
• exasperate
• bug
• rile
• harass
• distemper
• discourage
• hagride
• frazzle
• vex
• alarum
• fluster
• harry
• fret
• pique
• pester
• put off
• discomfit
• disconcert
• put out
• get
• chafe
• gall
• chivvy
• shake up
• peeve
• faze
• confound
• grate
• bedevil
• mortify
• dishearten
• unnerve
• nettle
• abash
• demoralize
• daunt
• discountenance
• dispirit
• jar
• chivy
• nonplus

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calm
• soothe
• settle
• quiet
• compose
• alleviate
• allay
• assuage
• tranquilize
• placate
• tranquillize
• appease
• pacify
• mollify
• conciliate
• propitiate

2

as in to overturn

to turn on one's side or upside down

the narrow boat upsets easily and should be handled with care

Synonyms & Similar Words

• overturn
• capsize
• collapse
• turn over
• turn turtle
• fall
• topple
• keel
• tilt
• upend
• overthrow
• overset
• invert
• lean
• tip
• list
• give
• tump (over)
• founder
• heel
• pitchpole
• careen

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• right
• stand up
• raise
• straighten (up)
• erect

3

as in to disrupt

to undo the proper order or arrangement of

the change in the bus schedule upset our daily routine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disrupt
• confuse
• disturb
• shuffle
• disarray
• disarrange
• scramble
• disorganize
• muddle
• jumble
• mix (up)
• disorder
• dislocate
• derange
• discompose
• tumble
• muss
• snarl
• hash
• tousle
• mess (up)
• disjoint
• unsettle
• tangle
• stir (up)
• perturb
• dishevel
• embroil
• rumple
• agitate
• clutter
• entangle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• regulate
• order
• dispose
• arrange
• organize
• draw up
• array
• range
• straighten (up)
• tidy
• classify
• adjust
• line up
• line
• marshal
• align
• marshall
• fix
• queue
• make up
• codify
• systematize
• aline
• groom
• methodize
• spruce (up)
• systemize
• unscramble

upset

3 of 3

noun

ˈəp-ˌset 

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

• disruption
• disturbance
• dislocation
• upheaval
• derangement
• revolution
• convulsion
• unsettlement
• unsettledness

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

Recent Examples of upset

Adjective

But when the bride finally put her foot down and stood up for herself, both the mother-in-law and her fiancé got upset. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025

Finn Balor is particularly upset with Mysterio for not pulling his weight within the faction. —Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025

Verb

However, Harper recently spoke to The Athletic's Matt Gelb and appears to be frustrated and upset by Dombrowski's comments. —Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025

But the one thing that really upsets her on a plane? —Meredith Lepore, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025

Noun

West Virginia has struggled in coach Rich Rodriguez’s first season back in Morgantown, but that doesn’t mean an upset isn’t possible if TCU doesn’t bring its best effort. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2025

Over the summer, Mamdani defeated Cuomo in the Democratic primary in a remarkable political upset that made national headlines and shocked the Democratic establishment. —Chantelle Lee, Time, 24 Oct. 2025