upset 1 of 3

upset

2 of 3

verb

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2
3

upset

3 of 3

noun

as in disruption
an act or instance of the order of things being disturbed the move to a new town is just the latest in a series of upsets for my family over the last year

Synonyms & Similar Words

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an upset child
an unhappy child
an agitated child
an emotional child
a distraught child
a perturbed child
upset customers
unhappy customers
displeased customers
unsatisfied customers
outraged customers
angry customers
an upset stomach
a sour stomach
an irritable stomach
an unsettled stomach
an uneasy stomach
a sick stomach

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb upset contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of upset are agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, fluster, and perturb. While all these words mean "to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action," upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.

the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

When is it sensible to use agitate instead of upset?

While the synonyms agitate and upset are close in meaning, agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

In what contexts can discompose take the place of upset?

Although the words discompose and upset have much in common, discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.

discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

When can disquiet be used instead of upset?

The synonyms disquiet and upset are sometimes interchangeable, but disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

When might disturb be a better fit than upset?

In some situations, the words disturb and upset are roughly equivalent. However, disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

When could fluster be used to replace upset?

The words fluster and upset are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

When would perturb be a good substitute for upset?

The meanings of perturb and upset largely overlap; however, perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of upset
Adjective
Real Sociedad has underperformed this season but is fully capable of pulling off the upset with a solid performance. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025 If a particular type of content leaves someone feeling anxious or upset, that’s a helpful signal to consume less of it and even block those who create that kind of online work. Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
The Minutemen were just minutes away from upsetting the Gophers in regulation before Snuggerud delayed the party. Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 Wake up call’: Democrat upsets Republican in state Senate race Robby Soave and Lynda Tran discuss how Democrats flipped a Senate seat in a special election in Pennsylvania. The Hill, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
Eala opened the Miami Open with an upset of No. 73 Katie Voleynets, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) in the Round of 128. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025 This year's tournament is lacking in upsets Who comes out on top in the AL East? Eric Samulski, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for upset
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upset
Adjective
  • Former Trump economic adviser Stephen Moore is increasingly worried about the ongoing plunge in consumer confidence.
    Matt Egan, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
  • If the Yankees are worried about pitching, Kevin Cash isn’t with his Rays.
    Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Throughout the night, Booker read letters from constituents worried about losing access to affordable health care, emphasizing that these concerns were not abstract but deeply personal for millions of people.
    Nik Popli, Time, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Musk ‘brand tornado crisis’ hits sales Analysts continue to worry that Musk’s actions elsewhere are hurting Tesla.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Missouri banned almost all abortions in 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe.
    Summer Ballentine, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Endangerment would require overturning a U.S. Supreme Court decision.
    Jan Ellen Spiegel, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • DDoS Threats Cybercriminals threaten Distributed Denial of Service attacks to disrupt personal websites unless payment is made.
    Alex Vakulov, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Unions point out that the CSRA granted federal workers collective bargaining rights in order to provide them a way to address workplace issues without disrupting government operations.
    Andrea Hsu, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Public health epidemics, cybersecurity attacks, economic fluctuations, market disruptions, and other unforeseen challenges can greatly impact a business.
    John Hall, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • All of the disruptions have pointed in the same predictable direction: Toward media coverage that supports rather than scrutinizes the administration’s agenda.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Dogs might feel scared and nervous or have separation anxiety while home alone.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
  • If people are scared and nervous, that in and of itself is harm.
    Stephen Daw, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Crimping is the process of severing a crop at the base and laying it over to create a decomposing thatch/mulch layer for the garden without disturbing the soil.
    Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2025
  • For example, museums could provide different audio guides to visitors without headphones, and libraries could allow students to study with audio lessons without disturbing others.
    Jiaxin Zhong, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In November 2024, a tourist boat capsized off Egypt's coast, killing four people.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • After a boat carrying eight passengers capsized in Florida, one person was found dead and four were taken to safety.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Upset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upset. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.

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