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
a period of social upheaval
also
: an instance of this
one of human history's greatest upheavals
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
For nearly two decades, soccer coach Patrice Millet has used the game to help children from some of Haiti’s poorest neighborhoods find refuge from their country’s upheavals.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
Polyploidy may help species survive such upheavals.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 19 May 2026
This mystery forms the crux of the film’s middle, even as surrealist scenes bring welcome tonal upheaval to the film’s last third.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 19 May 2026
That represents a dramatic upheaval of the car industry’s status quo.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
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Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
Polyploidy may help species survive such upheavals.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 19 May 2026
This mystery forms the crux of the film’s middle, even as surrealist scenes bring welcome tonal upheaval to the film’s last third.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 19 May 2026
That represents a dramatic upheaval of the car industry’s status quo.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
Cite this Entry
“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upheaval. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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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