upheaval
noun
up·heav·al
ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl 
(ˌ)ə-ˈpē-
1
: the action or an instance of upheaving especially of part of the earth's crust
2
: extreme agitation or disorder : radical change
also
: an instance of this
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
The geopolitical upheavals of recent years have added urgency to his work.
—
Sergei Klebnikov, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
He has been put in charge of a fragile minority government prone to challenges, demands and upheaval from parties on both the far left and right — as the ousting of Bayrou and his predecessor, Michel Barnier, less than a year ago, has proven.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Understanding the future of technology—and the wild imagination, hubris, and upheaval that accompany every technological revolution—has been a preoccupation among Atlantic writers for generations.
—Alex Reisner, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
Bayrou’s removal was the latest political upheaval for the country since Macron called snap elections in June last year in an attempt to bolster support for the political center, which resulted in a hung parliament.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
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Sergei Klebnikov, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
He has been put in charge of a fragile minority government prone to challenges, demands and upheaval from parties on both the far left and right — as the ousting of Bayrou and his predecessor, Michel Barnier, less than a year ago, has proven.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Understanding the future of technology—and the wild imagination, hubris, and upheaval that accompany every technological revolution—has been a preoccupation among Atlantic writers for generations.
—Alex Reisner, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
Bayrou’s removal was the latest political upheaval for the country since Macron called snap elections in June last year in an attempt to bolster support for the political center, which resulted in a hung parliament.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
Cite this Entry
“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upheaval. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upheaval
noun
up·heav·al
ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl
(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
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