1
as in to defeat
to achieve a victory over
the team won the division play-offs, but was upended in the final championship game
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to erect
to fix in an upright position
we had to upend the sofa in order to fit it into the elevator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of upend
One Republican’s new push to overhaul US sanctions on Syria is upending Washington’s entrenched partisan alliances, splitting both parties and raising questions about where the White House stands.
—
Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 22 July 2025
That’s obviously the most ambitious goal on the table for us, because that whole system is clearly screwed up almost beyond repair unless somebody else comes in and upends it all.
—Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 21 July 2025
The Houthi campaign has upended shipping in the Red Sea, through which $1 trillion of goods usually passes a year.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2025
For decades, startups have tried and failed to upend how Americans buy and sell homes.
—Ilona Limonta-Volkova, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for upend
Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 22 July 2025
That’s obviously the most ambitious goal on the table for us, because that whole system is clearly screwed up almost beyond repair unless somebody else comes in and upends it all.
—Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 21 July 2025
The Houthi campaign has upended shipping in the Red Sea, through which $1 trillion of goods usually passes a year.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2025
For decades, startups have tried and failed to upend how Americans buy and sell homes.
—Ilona Limonta-Volkova, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for upend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upend
Verb
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But how will the Four defeat an almost godlike being, even with their impressive superpowers?—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 July 2025
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As a fighting force, Hezbollah, the most powerful of Tehran’s proxy forces since 1982, was defeated.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
Verb
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Of course, the powers that be erected giant roadblocks to try to hinder him — and failed.—
Jeremy Helligar,
People.com,
19 July 2025
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The state’s emergency rules gave DeSantis the power to commandeer an airport owned by Miami-Dade County and deploy more than a dozen contractors to erect a tent city that has so far cost taxpayers about $240 million, according to available public records.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 July 2025
Verb
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The Austin district relied heavily on contractors to overcome its chronic backlog of evaluation requests.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Thunderbolts showed us the true power of the group hug to overcome . . .—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Verb
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Funds for the Parkland Library reopening came from a mix of allocations in the city budget, federal American Rescue Plan funds and donations raised through the Library Foundation.—
Keely Doll,
The Courier-Journal,
29 July 2025
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The case raised major questions about the line between freedom of expression and privacy, and what is actually newsworthy.—
Vanessa Romo,
NPR,
28 July 2025
Verb
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Apps that teach users to master them are more likely to stay installed.—
Alex Kreger,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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And above all, which of us hasn't spent hours upon hours at the local driving range trying to master the craft that is protagonist Happy Gilmore's signature running golf swing?—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Detour: Drivers can take 27th or 35th avenues to Yorkshire Drive or Deer Valley Road to avoid the closure.—
Olivia Rose,
AZCentral.com,
26 July 2025
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The night started after the second veto meeting, in which Kelley Jorgensen took herself off the block.—
David Wysong,
The Enquirer,
26 July 2025
Verb
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Denim might not be the go-to fabric for beating the summer heat, but that doesn’t stop enthusiasts from finding stylish ways to keep their indigo game strong all season long.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
29 July 2025
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In the first inning, Garcia gave Acuña a jovial finger-wag after beating his incoming throw from right field while simultaneously scoring a run.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 July 2025
Verb
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps is conquering around $23 million in previews tonight that began at 2 p.m..—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
25 July 2025
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Advocates can postulate that, absent the resolve of the United States to fight in Vietnam, even in a losing cause, the Soviet Union and China would have been emboldened to invade and conquer America, Western Europe and Japan, writing an epitaph for freedom.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upend. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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