Thesaurus results for UPHEAVAL

upheaval

noun

ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl

Definition of upheaval

as in unrest

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 upheaval The material comes together in five exploratory tracks that manage to find a certain stillness in between clear phases of upheaval. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026 Completing the spin-off, amid economic and geopolitical upheaval, will be the clearest test yet of whether that holds. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026 Amid this upheaval, the alliance’s momentum on hybrid warfare slowed to a crawl. — Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026 Against a backdrop of macro uncertainty and continued upheaval within fashion itself, designers at Paris Fashion Week (PFW) put on a series of shows grounded in reality. — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for upheaval

Recent Examples of Synonyms for upheaval

Noun

The island, known for its luxury beach resorts, last experienced similar unrest in 1999, when the death of a popular musician in police custody sparked days of rioting.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Israel and Western countries then boycotted its government, fueling months of unrest and fighting that led to the Hamas takeover of Gaza the next year.

— Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of unrest

Noun

Major technology revolutions have always triggered dramatic boom-bust cycles.

— RUCHIR SHARMA, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026
Few contemporary authors embody that idea more than Becky Chambers, whose stories imagine alternative futures—not through grand revolutions or galaxy-spanning battles but through ordinary people trying to care for one another.

— Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of revolution

Noun

The earthquake's epicenter was roughly 2 miles west-southwest of Yucaipa and occurred at a depth of 10 miles.

— CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Its chief instructor, Wang Kuanghan, has said plans are underway to open five more centers in China within three years, expanding the simulations to other disasters, including fires and earthquakes.

— Lauryn Higgins, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of earthquake

Noun

In the ensuing political turmoil, health workers went on strike, vaccine orders were delayed and follow-up vaccinations that usually accompany routine programs were disrupted.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Nationwide protests over the high cost of living roiled France on Saturday, adding to turmoil over public spending and debt ahead of a critical vote in the National Assembly.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of turmoil

Noun

The 2022 Freedom Convoy began over vaccine requirements for cross-border truckers but grew into a broader revolt against pandemic restrictions.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Advertisement The Yellow Vest revolt of 2018 to 2019 was an earlier social explosion of precisely that resentment.

— Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of revolt

Noun

How is the Schaumburg Democrat grappling with that fateful outcome, while preparing to depart Congress after 10 tumultuous years, which included a pandemic, an insurrection and impeachment proceedings?

— Marni Pyke, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026
The film argues that those foundational principles — along with the amendment’s prohibition against those who engage in insurrection serving as heads of state — have come under unprecedented pressure in recent years.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of insurrection

Noun

Gavras’s previous film, the magnificent Athena, was an action epic and family tragedy about an uprising at a French housing project.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
But Qaddafi’s military forces were decisively defeated by Western airpower and his objective of crushing a popular uprising by force was rendered impossible.

— Justin Bronk, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of uprising

Noun

After the initial blast, which spews out gamma rays, a storm of radiation pours into the surrounding galaxy, creating a ferocious afterglow that burns in every part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
After this week’s storm, temperatures are expected to climb back into the upper 70s and low 80s through the weekend.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of storm

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upheaval

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“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheaval. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of upheaval

noun

Example Sentences

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