upheaval

[ uhp-hee-vuhl ]

noun

1. strong or violent change or disturbance, as in a society:

   the upheaval of war.

   Synonyms: turmoil, disorder, disruption

2. an act of upheaving, especially of a part of the earth's crust.
3. the state of being upheaved.
4. Geology. an upward warping of a part of the earth's crust, forcing certain areas into a relatively higher position than before.

upheaval

/ ʌpˈhiːvəl /

noun

1. a strong, sudden, or violent disturbance, as in politics, social conditions, etc
2. geology another word for uplift

Word History and Origins

Origin of upheaval¹

First recorded in 1830–40; upheave + -al ²

Example Sentences

In 1947, as India prepared for its first cricket tour of Australia, the nation was in the midst of unprecedented upheaval.

From BBC

The upheaval “is going to be swift and unprecedented,” predicts Matthew Tejada of the Natural Resources Defense Council, who left EPA last year.

From Science Magazine

The threat of labour action also looms, as well as potential upheaval if Trump delivers on his campaign promise to reverse the Biden administration's new rules on vehicle emissions.

From BBC

It was the morning after election day, and the distraction I had hoped to find from the previous night’s upheaval found me first.

From Los Angeles Times

The Oscars come at a time when Hollywood is grappling with challenges including ongoing streaming upheavals, consolidation, the aftermath of a historic strike and the uncertainty of a second Trump presidency.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cataclysm
• catastrophe
• disaster
• disorder
• disruption
• disturbance
• eruption
• explosion
• ferment
• outbreak
• revolution
• shakeout
• temblor
• tremor
• tumult
• turmoil