upheaval
Americannoun
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strong or violent change or disturbance, as in a society.
the upheaval of war.
- Synonyms:
- turmoil, disorder, disruption
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an act of upheaving, especially of a part of the earth's crust.
-
the state of being upheaved.
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Geology. an upward warping of a part of the earth's crust, forcing certain areas into a relatively higher position than before.
noun
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a strong, sudden, or violent disturbance, as in politics, social conditions, etc
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geology another word for uplift
Etymology
Origin of upheaval
Explanation
Upheaval means a violent or sudden change. You might talk about an upheaval in government following an election where many incumbents are replaced. Upheaval is a geological term for the upward displacement of the earth's crust that has stretched to include a change in power or ideas. If you suddenly found out your favorite teacher was running a pyramid scheme and had escaped to a Caribbean island, you might experience an upheaval in your attitude toward teachers in general.
Vocabulary lists containing upheaval
Brace Yourself: Earthquake Words
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Mayhem! Chaos! Pandemonium!
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Bridge to Terabithia
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“If the adviser is bending because they need to increase the number of clients at all costs, or there’s upheaval or maybe high turnover at their firm, that’s not good,” Krueger said.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
It’s been his routine for decades, through all manner of upheaval and events — social, political, natural and man-made.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026
Well, we are currently living through country-changing upheaval, and instead of feeling thrilled, it’s making me and my friends nostalgic for our steady, bland childhoods.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
Still, despite the war upheaval, private credit angst and tech sector malaise, the S&P 500 is down 3.5% for the year—precisely the same decline booked over the same period in 2025.
From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026
If it again proves an illusion, then they will break up; hope is high, it cannot be taken away again without an upheaval.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
