UPSETS Synonyms: 179 Similar and Opposite Words

upsets 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of upset

as in disturbs

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the smallest things can upset us if we're already stressed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in overturns

to turn on one's side or upside down the narrow boat upsets easily and should be handled with care

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disrupts

to undo the proper order or arrangement of the change in the bus schedule upset our daily routine

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

upsets

2 of 2

noun

plural of upset

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

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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 upsets

Verb

Speaker Mike Johnson can lose two Republican votes before a third defection upsets the majority. — Lauren Peller, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 The leader who needs to be liked will, when forced to choose, find a reason to delay the hard conversation, soften the hard feedback, wait one more week on the call that upsets someone whose support feels useful today. — Mohamed Al Hashemi, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Aer Lingus magic The Aer Lingus Classic has been defined by rainy weather and upsets the past few years. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 Short’s Povich ultimately upsets both men by revealing Tracy Morgan as the true father of McNearney’s child. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026 Potential tax hike upsets longtime Jersey City residents A group of upset people tried to steal the spotlight at a prescheduled rally Solomon attended Monday to discuss climate change. — Kristie Keleshian, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 Tyson Gay upsets the defending world and Olympic champion Usain Bolt in a race between the two fastest runners in history. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 Don’t be home to have to listen to any of the buzz that upsets you. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 7 July 2026 Paraguay upsets Germany in sudden-death penalty kicks Gustavo Gómez of Paraguay celebrates after José Canale converts the winning penalty in a penalty shootout against Germany on Monday. — Josh Feldman, NBC news, 30 June 2026

Noun

Every college football Saturday is a memorable one, but some weekends deliver more drama than others, and Week 6 certainly falls into that category after the upsets that took place all around the country. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 The poll saw many changes following a Saturday filled with upsets. — Eric Olson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026 Here, Ava Wallace, Matt Futterman and James Hansen present their takeaways from the final Grand Slam of 2026, from the best matches and biggest upsets to their abiding memories. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 There were already three FCS upsets against FBS teams last week, with Tarleton State beating Bowling Green, The Citadel defeating Charlotte and Idaho State defeating Utah State. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2026 Other democratic socialists have won upsets in congressional races in New York and Colorado. — Caroline Linton, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 A couple of Friday night upsets and an overtime victory by The First Academy jostled the Orlando area football rankings again this week in the Sentinel’s Super 16 Coaches Poll. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for upsets

Verb

Some of the sightings claim a man wearing clothing typical of the 17th or 18th centuries, a man dressed in Confederate attire in the liquor room, a ghost of a former worker Joseph Hardesty and a female who actively disturbs visitors to her home.

— Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
Vibration disturbs the natural sediments in wine, flattening the flavor and aging it prematurely.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of disturbs

Verb

The decision overturns a Tennessee federal district court ruling that sided with Kalshi, and reaffirms a decision by a federal district court in Ohio that sided with the states’ argument.

— Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
Trump has said construction will not move forward unless a federal appeals court overturns a ruling blocking efforts to put his name on the building.

— Mike Stunson, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of overturns

Verb

Haidt argues that social media disrupts kids’ social and neurological development, contributing to rising anxiety and depression through sleep loss, fragmented attention, addiction, loneliness, social comparison and perfectionism.

— Ari Lightman, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
Washingtonâ€™s policy â€œis more about visibility and narrativeâ€¦ than one that genuinely disrupts organized crime,â€� an expert told The Wall Street Journal.

— Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of disrupts

Noun

The water main break was the latest in Los Angeles over the last few months as officials struggle with aging infrastructure and failing water systems that have caused major disruptions for motorists and residents.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
The undertaking will also test the ability of the sprawling House Democrats to work together and avoid the chaotic divisions and disruptions that have hobbled Republicans under Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of disruptions

Verb

The boat capsizes moments after departure All 15 victims were on a company trip organized by India's Lava International, a smartphone and consumer electronics manufacturer, for its employees, distributors and retail partners, the company said.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Boat capsizes during sudden storm on Geneva Lake Officials said all four children aboard were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Definition of capsizes

Verb

The legal system dehumanizes her, the support group confuses her, and one of her friends painfully disappoints her.

— Carey Purcell, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
This confuses each Nyota but also those around them, who note that the Nyotas have rather quickly assumed new hairstyles but also that neither is behaving quite like herself.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of confuses

Noun

However, existing machines have only hundreds to thousands of qubits, and environmental disturbances can introduce errors during computation.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Sleep disturbances and difficulty concentrating can also affect emotional well-being, and for some women, these symptoms can interfere with everyday activities and quality of life.

— Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturbances

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upsets

upsetting

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“Upsets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upsets. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of upsets

verb

noun

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