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
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Recent Examples of upheaval
Defense Team Turmoil James Craig's defense team has undergone multiple upheavals leading up to the trial.
—
Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
The target change is the fourth one of the year for RBC, as major upheavals to trade policy and other updates out of Washington have strategists up and down Wall Street scrambling to keep up with the market outlook —even as the S & P 500 continues to climb to all-time highs.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 14 July 2025
Just as the printing press sparked upheaval in its time, social media is now causing widespread fallout.
—Emi Eleode, Time, 14 July 2025
The 2-to-1 decision was the latest upheaval for families awaiting a resolution in the long, agonizing case and does not mean the conspiracy trial can start soon.
—New York Times, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
The target change is the fourth one of the year for RBC, as major upheavals to trade policy and other updates out of Washington have strategists up and down Wall Street scrambling to keep up with the market outlook —even as the S & P 500 continues to climb to all-time highs.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 14 July 2025
Just as the printing press sparked upheaval in its time, social media is now causing widespread fallout.
—Emi Eleode, Time, 14 July 2025
The 2-to-1 decision was the latest upheaval for families awaiting a resolution in the long, agonizing case and does not mean the conspiracy trial can start soon.
—New York Times, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upheaval
Noun
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The company, which now has a manufacturing supply chain stretching from Vietnam to Peru, is in a decent position to weather trade unrest.—
Peter Vanham,
Fortune,
21 July 2025
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Volcanic unrest and gas hazard areas Contributing: Jennifer Borresen and Shawn J. Sullivan, USA TODAY.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
17 July 2025
Noun
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This will be difficult as the country’s economy is less broad-based compared with India and less cohesive compared with Sri Lanka, which has smartly recovered from its own revolution in 2022.—
Vasuki Shastry,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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On the one hand, as Tevye is fond of saying, the story unfolds in a hardscrabble shtetl in the Ukrainian plains in the months leading up to the Russian Empire’s abortive 1905 revolution.—
David Lyman,
The Enquirer,
25 July 2025
Noun
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On Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, a flurry of small earthquakes shook the Iliamna volcano on June 15.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
14 July 2025
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While much of America has moved past COVID-19, the pandemic that hit the industry like an earthquake continues to experience aftershocks.—
Alexander Coolidge,
The Enquirer,
13 July 2025
Noun
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Regardless of the political turmoil and debate around the cryptoasset sector the fact remains that institutional adoption has continued virtually unabated.—
Sean Stein Smith,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
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Months later, talent manager Roger Davies would sign Turner — who’d found fame amid much personal turmoil as one half of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue — as a solo act, launching her career into the stratosphere.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
16 July 2025
Noun
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Wells’s revolt against White led to the making of one of New York’s greatest houses.—
Henry Wiencek
July 22,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
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While little is known about Slur's motives beyond his desire for revolt, his connection to the JAA and his old classmates hint that there's more to his story.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
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Since then, he has been emboldened to speak his mind, coming out against Ed Martin for the top federal prosecutor gig in Washington because of his support and defense of the rioters who sent Tillis and colleagues fleeing during the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
30 June 2025
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In its more than four decades in power, the Islamic Republic has faced its share of popular insurrections.—
ERIC EDELMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
20 June 2025
Noun
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Intifada is an Arabic word for uprising, and in a Palestinian context usually refers to two periods of violence between Israeli authorities and Palestinian militant groups and demonstrators.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
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The interim government has banned the Awami League party and amended relevant laws to allow the trial of the former ruling party for its role during the uprising.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
10 July 2025
Noun
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Declaring a state of emergency allows the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to offer financial assistance under the State Disaster Relief Fund to help cover expenses caused by the storm damage.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
23 July 2025
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Shower and storm chances return as well -- stay tuned, and do your best to stay cool.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheaval. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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