1
as in disturbs
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
the smallest things can upset us if we're already stressed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overturns
to turn on one's side or upside down
the narrow boat upsets easily and should be handled with care
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disrupts
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
the change in the bus schedule upset our daily routine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in disruptions
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of upsets
Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Prevent upsets to your meal (and upsets to your hungry guests) by making every spice, seasoning, and ingredient easy to find.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025
But if Duke upsets Virginia, there’s a legitimate chance an 8-5 Blue Devils team — and the entire ACC — would be left out of the CFP, replaced by two mid-major conference champions.
—Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
The mandate by India also upsets the unwritten détente between the makers of smartphone operating systems and law enforcement agencies around the world.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 3 Dec. 2025
This is something that really upsets me deep in my soul.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
Bovino appears to be arguing with a man standing near Muñoz who says something that visibly upsets the chief.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
But the one thing that really upsets her on a plane?
—Meredith Lepore, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
Chai is gentler on the stomach and might be better if coffee upsets your stomach.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2025
Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Several underdogs could pull upsets this weekend.
—Neil Greenberg, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Still, the acting races are where the upsets tend to live.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 Jan. 2026
New Year's bowl game upsets left several College Football Playoff favorites high and dry, and now, the semifinal opponents are set.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 2 Jan. 2026
On Wednesday night, the Miami Hurricanes pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the College Football Playoff with a 24-14 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Dec. 2025
There were some other upsets in the world.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 13 Dec. 2025
Green Bay was on the wrong end of one of the biggest upsets in years last Sunday, losing to the Panthers as two-touchdown underdogs.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
All six of those teams have either two or three total conference games left on their schedule, so the chances for those upsets to take place are minimal.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
Or, imagine that Uruguay upsets Spain in Group H.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Prevent upsets to your meal (and upsets to your hungry guests) by making every spice, seasoning, and ingredient easy to find.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025
But if Duke upsets Virginia, there’s a legitimate chance an 8-5 Blue Devils team — and the entire ACC — would be left out of the CFP, replaced by two mid-major conference champions.
—Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
The mandate by India also upsets the unwritten détente between the makers of smartphone operating systems and law enforcement agencies around the world.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 3 Dec. 2025
This is something that really upsets me deep in my soul.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
Bovino appears to be arguing with a man standing near Muñoz who says something that visibly upsets the chief.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
But the one thing that really upsets her on a plane?
—Meredith Lepore, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
Chai is gentler on the stomach and might be better if coffee upsets your stomach.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
There have been some truly glorious days, none more so than that triumph over Arsenal, when Brian Flynn’s side inflicted one of the biggest FA Cup upsets of all time.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Several underdogs could pull upsets this weekend.
—Neil Greenberg, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Still, the acting races are where the upsets tend to live.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 3 Jan. 2026
New Year's bowl game upsets left several College Football Playoff favorites high and dry, and now, the semifinal opponents are set.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 2 Jan. 2026
On Wednesday night, the Miami Hurricanes pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the College Football Playoff with a 24-14 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Dec. 2025
There were some other upsets in the world.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 13 Dec. 2025
Green Bay was on the wrong end of one of the biggest upsets in years last Sunday, losing to the Panthers as two-touchdown underdogs.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
All six of those teams have either two or three total conference games left on their schedule, so the chances for those upsets to take place are minimal.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upsets
Verb
-
Another possibility is that there is a relic magnetic field that exists between galaxies which remains from the early universe and disturbs low-energy gamma-rays.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The water is perfectly clear — until someone brushes the side of the cave or disturbs the soft bottom, sending fine silt particles billowing into the beam of a headlamp.—
Jennifer Walker,
CNN Money,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Similarly, the video Som da Maloka, 2024, by Raphael Escobar overturns negative stereotypes about the shelterless men of color living in Cracolândia, a highly impoverished and heavily policed area of downtown São Paulo ravaged by crack cocaine and other drugs.—
Michaëla de Lacaze Mohrmann,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
-
Bell toe-taps to get into the end zone on the third-down pass, and replay overturns the initial incomplete call.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The condition disrupts the production of CoQ10, a molecule essential for generating energy inside cells, leading to rapid neurological decline and loss of mobility.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Jan. 2026
-
In other words, alcohol disrupts hydration, irritates the gut, inflames blood vessels, messes with sleep, and forces your liver into metabolic overdrive.—
Ciara Lucas,
SELF,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Teach for America’s chief growth and program officer, Whitney Petersmeyer, told The Guardian there was a connection between the applicant surge and job disruptions.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Ferries may be the only link between islands, long-distance buses remain the backbone of inter-city travel, and weather disruptions can change your plans with little notice.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Feeney’s book features multiple narrators, but relativity is not an idea the series bothers to develop.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Now, wages have grown, but inflation bothers people.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The group gets stranded at sea off the coast of Florida when their boat capsizes, leading Coast Guard Captain Timothy Close (Duhamel) to oversee the efforts to bring them home as a storm looms.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 2025
-
When a violent storm nearly capsizes them, the family awakes in a desert land.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
9 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Red Rising is a book that seems to confuses some politically right-leaning readers, something which frustrates but doesn’t surprise Abughazaleh.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
19 Dec. 2025
-
Mars’ clash with Neptune clouds your judgment and confuses your intuition.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
14 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The remaining three calls were related to minor disturbances in 2013, 2014 and 2017.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The country’s strong standing in safety could stem from several factors, including societal structure, strict laws, and cultural focus on harmony, which keep street crime and public disturbances very low.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Upsets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upsets. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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