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
Relevance
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
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 upend
Their clash generates headlines, but don’t expect this news cycle to meaningfully upend the major characters, narratives, and overall dynamics of the right-wing media ecosystem.
—
Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
In trade, too, Trump has sought to upend existing partnerships and alliances.
—Malcolm Turnbull, Foreign Affairs, 6 June 2025
Now Donald Trump’s executive order aiming to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR has upended everything.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 4 June 2025
Interstate competition from the South, which began in the 1940s with textile mills relocating from New England, has upended where U.S. manufacturing happens, from steel to cars to machinery.
—Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for upend
Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
In trade, too, Trump has sought to upend existing partnerships and alliances.
—Malcolm Turnbull, Foreign Affairs, 6 June 2025
Now Donald Trump’s executive order aiming to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR has upended everything.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 4 June 2025
Interstate competition from the South, which began in the 1940s with textile mills relocating from New England, has upended where U.S. manufacturing happens, from steel to cars to machinery.
—Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for upend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upend
Verb
-
That’s supposed to keep immigrant families safe and defeat Trump?—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
-
His reign ended as another American emerged, Francis Ouimet, a mild-mannered amateur who defeated Vardon and Ted Ray in a playoff.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
The regular season is winding down this month, but the Summer for the City festival is coming up, and a crew is erecting a stage near the central fountain.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
30 May 2025
-
According to the lawsuit, the Williamses erected a shed against the church’s fence.—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
But your brain might still seek patterns to overcome.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Yet soon one is overcome by Charles Laughton’s creepy, convincing portrayal of Captain Bligh’s sadomasochism: most of the first fifteen minutes is taken up with floggings and other shipboard disciplining of half-naked men, shown in detail while Laughton looks on with long-lipped lasciviousness.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
Other potential violations of the Byrd Rule could include the elimination of Medicaid funding for transgender care and a proposal to raise immigration fees.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
In November, voters in Hawley's home state of Missouri approved a ballot measure to raise the state's minimum wage to $15 per hour, starting in 2026.—
/ CBS News,
CBS News,
10 June 2025
Verb
-
The tournament is serving as a trial run for FIFA to master the quality of its playing surfaces ahead of the men’s World Cup next year.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
14 June 2025
-
Master the LinkedIn inbox, master your growth Message your profile viewers first Every day, people check out your profile.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
Corey Feldman, Sean Astin and Ke Huy Quan were among the stars who took a moment to reflect on the major milestone Feldman documented his nostalgic visit to Astoria, Oregon, where the 1985 movie was filmed The Goonies turns 40!—
Grace Harrington,
People.com,
8 June 2025
-
Bitdefender prevailed in some areas, such as pricing and ransomware protection, while Norton took the win for hands-on test scores and firewall defenses, for example.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
7 June 2025
Verb
-
Gordon mentions beating the Bears’ rivals as one of his key team goals for the 2025 season.—
DJ Siddiqi,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
This, in turn, provoked police to wade into the crowd, beating people with nightsticks.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
10 June 2025
Verb
-
Ephesus is primarily known as a Ionian Greek city, but it was later conquered and rebuilt by the Romans.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
-
Updated June 4, 2025: In 2018, Eva Steinwald was still conquering her fear of heights.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upend. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share