uproar

noun

up·​roar ˈəp-ˌrȯr 

: a state of commotion, excitement, or violent disturbance

Synonyms

• commotion
• disturbance
• stir
• turmoil
• fuss
• hurry

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

Zarutska’s death, and the ensuing uproar, has become political, the sheriff said. —Charlotte Observer, 12 Sep. 2025

Given that chain stores rarely, if ever, carry CDs anymore, the reissue of the album’s original cover may not cause as much of an uproar this time. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025

Republicans have treated Raskin’s calls for transparency as a political exercise, noting that President Joe Biden did not face the same uproar over Epstein. —Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2025

After an uproar from the Toronto Jewish community, Toronto reached an agreement with Avrich over security and footage clearance concerns to allow the reinstatement of the film in the official lineup. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for uproar

• abhor
• abor
• adore
• afore
• ardour
• ashore
• backdoor
• before
• bookstore
• candour
• centaur
• claymore

Kids Definition

uproar

noun

up·​roar ˈəp-ˌrō(ə)r 

-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.