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
• hesitant
• flustered
• ill at ease
• tense
• distraught
• queasy
• jittery
• insecure
• jumpy
• on edge
• freaked
• obsessed
• on tenterhooks
• on pins and needles
• aggrieved
• preoccupied
• antsy
• goosey
• het up
• unquiet
• edgy
• distressed
• nervy
• dithery
• disquieted
• restless
• 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
• twittered
• skittish
• 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
• dismay
• discomfort
• irritate
• derail
• confuse
• disquiet
• haunt
• plague
• perturb
• fuss
• embarrass
• discompose
• flurry
• undo
• ail
• exercise
• unhinge
• freak (out)
• weird out
• rattle
• aggravate
• irk
• exasperate
• bug
• rile
• harass
• distemper
• discourage
• hagride
• frazzle
• vex
• harry
• fluster
• fret
• pique
• pester
• put off
• discomfit
• disconcert
• put out
• get
• chafe
• gall
• 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
• 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
• organize
• arrange
• dispose
• draw up
• array
• range
• straighten (up)
• tidy
• adjust
• classify
• line
• line up
• marshal
• align
• fix
• make up
• codify
• systematize
• queue
• 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 Lee didn’t stick around after the Palme d’Or went to the Coen brothers’ Barton Fink — a bit of an upset since his own Jungle Fever had been heavily touted as a favorite. —Gregg Kilday, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026

However, if eaten in large enough quantities, clover may cause skin irritation or upset stomach. —Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 13 May 2026

Verb

The latter, however, would upset the uber-nationalists and war hawks who believe that nothing short of Ukraine’s full capitulation is acceptable for the mighty Russian state. —Daniel Depetris, Twin Cities, 15 May 2026

The Lebanese government has decided not to grant Iranians, government, and private citizens an automatic visa waiver, which upset Iran and Hezbollah. —Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026

Noun

Throw in the Indiana Pacers’ and New York Knicks’ surprising second-round wins last year (+425 and +550 odds, respectively), and four of the 14 largest NBA playoff upsets of the past 40 years have occurred in just the past two postseasons. —Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 6 May 2026

In his second game with the Birmingham Stallions, quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson completed 70% of his passes for 271 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions in a 20-17 upset of the Storm. —Jim Reineking, USA Today, 4 May 2026