as in revolutions
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
the government can no longer control the social upheaval brought about by the collapse of the country's economy
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Recent Examples of upheavals
Modern conservatism developed its own history and internal logic, emerging not merely in opposition but alongside liberalism as a powerful response to the social and economic upheavals of the early 20th century.
—
Allan J. Lichtman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
The geopolitical upheavals of recent years have added urgency to his work.
—Sergei Klebnikov, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
In an alternate timeline without COVID-19 and the cultural upheavals of 2020, Bennet might be the executive editor of The New York Times.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The United States and South Korea previously butted heads over how to handle the threat from North Korea, and there have been periodic public upheavals in Korean public opinion over tragic incidents involving American troops stationed on the peninsula.
—Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2025
The drama about a Turkish college professor facing major upheavals on two home fronts bowed at Sundance and stars Ekin Koc, Erkan Kolçak Kostendil, Hazar Erguclu and Ercan Kesal.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2025
Entirely outside the symbolic order, nature goes about its business, taking no notice of our seemingly momentous upheavals, our dumb travails.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Barra's leadership — and close collaboration with longtime professional partner, GM President Mark Reuss — has seen the automaker through upheavals ranging from a global pandemic to an administration undoing decades of trade, energy and environmental policy.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
However, as California became dominated by one party and the Capitol press corps shrank due to upheavals in media industries, secrecy became more entrenched.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
Allan J. Lichtman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
The geopolitical upheavals of recent years have added urgency to his work.
—Sergei Klebnikov, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
In an alternate timeline without COVID-19 and the cultural upheavals of 2020, Bennet might be the executive editor of The New York Times.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The United States and South Korea previously butted heads over how to handle the threat from North Korea, and there have been periodic public upheavals in Korean public opinion over tragic incidents involving American troops stationed on the peninsula.
—Kurt M. Campbell, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2025
The drama about a Turkish college professor facing major upheavals on two home fronts bowed at Sundance and stars Ekin Koc, Erkan Kolçak Kostendil, Hazar Erguclu and Ercan Kesal.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2025
Entirely outside the symbolic order, nature goes about its business, taking no notice of our seemingly momentous upheavals, our dumb travails.
—Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Barra's leadership — and close collaboration with longtime professional partner, GM President Mark Reuss — has seen the automaker through upheavals ranging from a global pandemic to an administration undoing decades of trade, energy and environmental policy.
—Mark Phelan, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025
However, as California became dominated by one party and the Capitol press corps shrank due to upheavals in media industries, secrecy became more entrenched.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upheavals
Noun
-
But history shows that technological revolutions tend to transform roles rather than simply eliminate them.—
Thanh Pham,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Interestingly, it was found spinning at 100 revolutions per second.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But the ground level faces severe flooding risks through a combination of rainstorms and earthquakes that bring soil water to the surface, per a study conducted in 2016 by the San Francisco Bay Conservation & Development Commission.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
20 Sep. 2025
-
The work is part of Phase 5 of the bluff stabilization project, which began in 2024 as part of an effort to protect the eroding bluffs from earthquakes, sea level rise and other factors.—
Luke Harold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Soliman worked as a freelance journalist covering pro-democracy revolts in Egypt and neighboring Libya.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Because of the revolts, Compton says, drumming and African spiritual practices were eventually criminalized in the colonies.—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Rolling Stone,
23 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The president can also legally invoke the military under the Insurrection Act, which allows troops to be deployed in order to curb insurrections.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The persecution worsened more than a decade ago during uprisings that remade the Middle East by toppling dictators — including Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak — but in some places spiraled into civil war.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Advertisement The power of social media to foment popular protest is no stranger to Asia, where the internet has been a key driver of popular uprisings that toppled governments in Sri Lanka in 2022 and Bangladesh in 2024, and continue to roil Indonesia today.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The lawsuits seek money to help communities cope with the risks and harms from global warming, including more extreme storms, floods and heat waves.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
19 Sep. 2025
-
After years of delays from heavy winter storms, COVID, funding shortfalls, and more fires, crews built a new trail as part of a $2 million upgrade to the park, with impressive new wooden bridges, signs and other amenities, completing the project in 2021.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
About two couples, connected and dependent on one another, raising their kids alongside each other, facing the same turmoils, the same existential questions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For more severe and potentially life-threatening infections, symptoms may include headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
-
An hour later, Bradley Fullerton’s cellmate sought help because Fullerton was having convulsions, according to the filing.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upheavals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upheavals. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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