upset 1 of 3

Definition of upsetnext

upset

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verb

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upset

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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

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
People in the below average fitness group also got angrier more quickly and felt upset for longer than those who exercised more often. Korin Miller, SELF, 20 Feb. 2026 Gottlieb was also upset with a technical foul call he was given. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
In the statement, the zoo said the mother may have thought her baby was annoyed with Punch, which upset her. Greta Cross, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026 Kerrigan would take the silver, having been upset by the 16-year-old Ukrainian Oksana Baiul, while a visibly discombobulated Harding finished out of the medals. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
Anthony skied cleanly through all five of the single-elimination races to win a gold that goes alongside the title won by Cooper Woods in an upset in the regular men's moguls earlier this week. ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026 In that tournament, Denmark pulled off a surprise upset of Canada. Sean Nevin, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for upset
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upset
Adjective
  • While the consequences of skipping routine medical care may not always be immediate, Muthyala said providers are worried about the downstream impact all of this will have on the health of the community.
    Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Some were worried about not competing for championships because of being out of the WPIAL.
    Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In addition to worry over exposure to toxins in food and drinking water, more than 60% of American adults are also very or somewhat concerned about chemicals that industry uses in children’s toys and baby products, food packaging, and personal care products such as makeup, the Pew survey found.
    Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
  • With nine Democrats in the field, party leaders worry that two Republican candidates could advance to November’s general election.
    Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Trump had appointed − Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett − joined the 6-3 majority that overturned his emergency tariffs.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Lupel continued working to get Dotson’s rape conviction overturned until withdrawing as his attorney in 1986.
    Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • While fears over how artificial intelligence models from Anthropic and OpenAI could disrupt a myriad of industries — especially software firms — have churned markets in recent weeks, the broader S&P 500 isn’t far off from its all-time record level.
    Hugh Son, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Authorities and witnesses reported burning vehicles, road blockades and attacks meant to disrupt security forces and restrict movement.
    Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • For many women, the disruption feels sudden.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026
  • All that disruption has been great for large shareholders and some C-suite executives.
    Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Almonds, chestnuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, chia, and flax are rich in magnesium and omega-3s, helping to support nervous-system and hormonal balance.
    Mélanie Defouilloy, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2026
  • And to be perfectly fair, nervous gratuitous laughter at stupid jokes is not unknown among anyone, including the press corps.
    John Shipley, Twin Cities, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The 12 villas come with a living room, a separate bedroom, and kitchen stocked with complimentary snacks and drinks from the mini bar, a pre-dinner amuse bouche from the chef each evening, and a patio with a separate entrance for staffers to set up morning breakfast without disturbing you.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Set in the 1990s, the film centers on a young FBI agent (Maika Monroe) who investigates a series of disturbing murders connected by highly specific commonalities.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Eight people died when one of the lifeboats capsized.
    George Petras, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
  • One of the lifeboats capsized on the way to shore, killing eight people.
    Todd Richmond, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Upset.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upset. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.

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