1
as in to defeat
to achieve a victory over
the team won the division play-offs, but was upended in the final championship game
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to erect
to fix in an upright position
we had to upend the sofa in order to fit it into the elevator
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of upend
On Tuesday afternoon, when the U.S. Homeland Security Department announced that churches would no longer be protected from immigration raids, upending a long-standing policy, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church's Rev. Jim Rigby was not surprised.
—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 8 July 2025
While some may despair that widespread use of AI may upend the entire concept of higher education, some professors are already starting to see the tech’s usage among students as a positive thing.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 8 July 2025
When his young son Walter (Roman Griffin Davis) and Walter’s cat upend the performance with their unruly behavior, Charles’s wife, Catherine (Thurman), persuades Charles not to punish the kid but instead to use the opportunity to teach him about Jesus (Isaac).
—Chris Deville, The Atlantic, 6 July 2025
The Supreme Court’s ruling restricting judges’ ability to constrain Trump is likely to upend how litigation against the administration plays out going forward.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for upend
Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 8 July 2025
While some may despair that widespread use of AI may upend the entire concept of higher education, some professors are already starting to see the tech’s usage among students as a positive thing.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 8 July 2025
When his young son Walter (Roman Griffin Davis) and Walter’s cat upend the performance with their unruly behavior, Charles’s wife, Catherine (Thurman), persuades Charles not to punish the kid but instead to use the opportunity to teach him about Jesus (Isaac).
—Chris Deville, The Atlantic, 6 July 2025
The Supreme Court’s ruling restricting judges’ ability to constrain Trump is likely to upend how litigation against the administration plays out going forward.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for upend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upend
Verb
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The Dodgers defeated the Yankees in the 2024 World Series four games to one.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 in what was judged to be Nigeria's fairest election to date.—
Benjamin Ezeamalu,
USA Today,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Of course, the powers that be erected giant roadblocks to try to hinder him — and failed.—
Jeremy Helligar,
People.com,
19 July 2025
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The state’s emergency rules gave DeSantis the power to commandeer an airport owned by Miami-Dade County and deploy more than a dozen contractors to erect a tent city that has so far cost taxpayers about $240 million, according to available public records.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 July 2025
Verb
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Judicial confirmations were once a slower, more contentious process, often requiring 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
14 July 2025
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Becky Lynch overcame Lyra Valkyria and Bayley to retain the Women’s Intercontinental Championship in what was possibly the match of the night.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Hallie Parker, the more mischievous and outgoing sister, was raised in Napa Valley, California, by her dad, Nick.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 July 2025
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Attorneys in death penalty cases often raise the issue of past trauma as a mitigating factor for juries to consider when deciding punishment.—
The Marshall Project,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 July 2025
Verb
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Common roof framing is a true skill, and each day, there are fewer carpenters who have mastered it.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
19 July 2025
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In an era where scaling speed often determines market success, the companies that master front-line first hiring may find a scaling edge when growing or entering new markets.—
Charles Towers-Clark,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
Verb
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Detour: Drivers can take 27th or 35th avenues to Yorkshire Drive or Deer Valley Road to avoid the closure.—
Olivia Rose,
AZCentral.com,
26 July 2025
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The night started after the second veto meeting, in which Kelley Jorgensen took herself off the block.—
David Wysong,
The Enquirer,
26 July 2025
Verb
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According to the New York Times, this thoroughly beats the area’s previous record of 1.47 inches, set in 1908.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images JPMorgan Chase beat Wall Street’s expectations for the second quarter on Tuesday, reporting earnings of $5.24 a share and $45.68 billion in revenue during the period.—
Josephine Rozzelle,
CNBC,
15 July 2025
Verb
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps is conquering around $23 million in previews tonight that began at 2 p.m..—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
25 July 2025
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Advocates can postulate that, absent the resolve of the United States to fight in Vietnam, even in a losing cause, the Soviet Union and China would have been emboldened to invade and conquer America, Western Europe and Japan, writing an epitaph for freedom.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upend. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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