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
Constant procedural upheaval and backlogs are poison.
—
Scott White, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
King took over in June as the district was confronting a $734 million budget crisis in the wake of leadership upheaval.
—Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Season 3 of The Gilded Age ends with upheaval for nearly every character on the show.
—Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 11 Aug. 2025
The upheaval of linear TV and the influx of investment in streaming has brought live sports to an array of services, adding Apple TV+, Roku, Netflix and YouTube to the array of other linear and streaming outlets confronting sports viewers.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
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Scott White, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
King took over in June as the district was confronting a $734 million budget crisis in the wake of leadership upheaval.
—Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Season 3 of The Gilded Age ends with upheaval for nearly every character on the show.
—Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 11 Aug. 2025
The upheaval of linear TV and the influx of investment in streaming has brought live sports to an array of services, adding Apple TV+, Roku, Netflix and YouTube to the array of other linear and streaming outlets confronting sports viewers.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 6 Aug. 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 21 Aug. 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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