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 On his mind are various ideas for addressing social upheaval. — Reuters, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026 Kyiv, meanwhile, aims to sow economic discontent among Russians with strikes against oil refineries and e-commerce warehouses, but experts argued domestic upheaval is unlikely to change Moscow’s calculus. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026 This was several shades darker, worrying about economic upheaval, social unrest, cyberattacks, bioterrorism—and most important, the failure of experts and governments to take these threats seriously enough. — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026 The 1960s were a time of major political, social, and cultural upheaval. — Andrew Niemchick, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for upheaval

Recent Examples of Synonyms for upheaval

Noun

Tibet is a Chinese autonomous region that has gone through cycles of protest, unrest and government repression since China asserted control over the region in 1951.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
What followed was at least one night of unrest in Minneapolis.

— Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of unrest

Noun

During its socialist revolution, the government kicked out many foreign oil companies.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
Two years after the 2011 Egyptian revolution, then 17-year-old Abdelrahman ElGendy and his father were arrested for recording a protest on the streets of Cairo.

— Mary Lawrence Ware, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of revolution

Noun

The earthquake's epicenter was approximately 9 miles southeast of Petrolia and occurred at a depth of 7 miles.

— CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Unger also claimed in the FPPC complaint that the board overpaid for the land, and that an earthquake fault running through it calls into question the feasibility of building there.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of earthquake

Noun

Syria’s leaders are now positioning the country to benefit from a resurgence of regional turmoil.

— Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
Geopolitical turmoil, including war in the Middle East and US import tariffs, has brought urgency to an issue Icelanders have debated on and off for decades.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of turmoil

Noun

Not since voters passed Proposition 13, an iconic property tax limit, in 1978 and touched off tax revolts in other states has a California measure potentially affected America’s taxation policies so broadly.

— Dan Walters, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
After years of requesting simpler access to the life-saving therapy – and partially getting it during the pandemic, without negative consequences – many in that world were in full revolt.

— Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of revolt

Noun

As Port falls in with a group of conspirators preparing for the insurrection, the book takes on a hallucinatory, digressive quality, blurring the lines between life and death, reality and illusion.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Stephen Colbert’s award-winning Late Show was canceled in a move that many have labeled political appeasement, and the flagship evening newscast baselessly recast the January 6 insurrection as a partisan squabble.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of insurrection

Noun

Udas is among a wave of reform-minded politicians who came to the fore after a popular and violent Gen Z uprising last year toppled the country’s political establishment.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
One of the things that was mentioned early on was a change in the regime there, an uprising by the Iranian people against this Islamic theocracy, which has long had control.

— Dana Taylor, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of uprising

Noun

The storm is forecast to bring flooding rain, strong winds, storm surge, and possible tornadoes to the region.

— Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Late one August afternoon in a Manhattan editing suite, with thunder and lightning raging outside, a storm was also brewing inside.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of storm

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“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheaval. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of upheaval

noun

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