uproar

noun

up·​roar ˈəp-ˌrȯr How to pronounce uproar (audio)
Synonyms of uproar
: a state of commotion, excitement, or violent disturbance
an uproar over the proposed building development

Synonyms of uproar

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Examples of uproar in a Sentence

There was a lot of public uproar over the proposed jail. There have been uproars in the past over similar proposals. The proposal caused an uproar. The town was in an uproar over the proposal to build a jail.
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.
In the aftermath of two fatal shootings in Minnesota in January that sparked protests and an uproar from Democratic lawmakers, arrests began to fall to nearly 30,000 in February. — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 This week, there’s been an uproar around the sport as court decisions in multiple states introduced the possibility of players who spent the summer on NFL rosters returning to college football. — David Ubben, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The decision caused an uproar on Capitol Hill, particularly among Democrats, who refused to renew a key spy authority until Pulte's name was pulled. — Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 The resulting uproar poured propane onto an existing fire, one that even reportedly led to the Recording Academy CEO reconsidering the category as a whole. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for uproar

Word History

Etymology

by folk etymology from Dutch oproer, from Middle Dutch, from op up (akin to Old English ūp) + roer motion; akin to Old English hrēran to stir

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of uproar was in 1526

Rhymes for uproar

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Browse Nearby Words

upriver
uproar
uproarious
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Cite this Entry

“Uproar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uproar. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

uproar

noun
up·​roar ˈəp-ˌrō(ə)r How to pronounce uproar (audio)
-ˌrȯ(ə)r
: a state of commotion, excitement, or violent disturbance
Etymology

from Dutch oproer "revolt, uprising," from op "up" and roer "motion"; the English spelling and meaning influenced by the similarity of the English roar to Dutch roer

Word Origin
The -roar part of the word uproar has no connection with the sounds made by some animals and crowds. The first use of uproar was as the translation of the Dutch word oproer, meaning "uprising, rebellion, revolt." Thus, the first meaning of uproar was the same as the Dutch meaning of oproer. Nowadays, this sense of uproar is no longer used. Because people thought that the roar of uproar referred to loud cries and sounds, they began to use the word to mean "a noisy disturbance or commotion." This is the sense of uproar that has survived.
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