upheaval

noun

up·​heav·​al ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl How to pronounce upheaval (audio)
(ˌ)ə-ˈpē-
Synonyms of upheaval
1
: the action or an instance of upheaving especially of part of the earth's crust
2
: extreme agitation or disorder : radical change
a period of social upheaval
also : an instance of this
one of human history's greatest upheavals

Synonyms of upheaval

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Examples of upheaval in a Sentence

The civil rights movement marked a period of social upheaval in the U.S. the emotional upheaval of divorce a period of cultural and social upheavals The island was created by an upheaval of the ocean floor. The lake was formed by geologic upheaval.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The landscape stayed quiet for a while, until a series of upheavals in the American League West. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Artificial intelligence has unleashed the greatest upheaval within the industry since Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone in 2007. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 During the surge, the most important of these turned out to be those founded during the upheaval that followed George Floyd’s murder, when residents gathered in nearby parks to organize block associations led by captains. — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 The upheaval comes amid wider scrutiny of the project’s costs and management, with NSW Treasury also taking a greater role in oversight. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for upheaval

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of upheaval was in 1838

Rhymes for upheaval

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Browse Nearby Words

upheaped
upheaval
upheavalist
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Cite this Entry

“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upheaval. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

upheaval

noun
up·​heav·​al ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl How to pronounce upheaval (audio)
(ˌ)ə-ˈpē-
1
: the action or an instance of heaving or lifting up from beneath especially of part of the earth's crust
2
: an instance of violent disorder or change
emotional upheaval
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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