1
as in disturbs
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
the smallest things can upset us if we're already stressed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overturns
to turn on one's side or upside down
the narrow boat upsets easily and should be handled with care
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disrupts
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
the change in the bus schedule upset our daily routine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in disruptions
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of upsets
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 May 2026
The sale — motivated by a need to remain on the right side of profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) in the summer of 2024 — is a moment that still upsets Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 11 May 2026
On the women’s side, where blowouts are many and upsets rare, some of those first-round games figure to be can’t-watch TV.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
That said, by design, travel often upsets our routine.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Daisy, whose backstory includes, in the first episode, a brief glimpse of Elisabeth Moss’ June, certainly upsets things, most often by reacting to Gilead’s penchant for public atrocities the way a non-sociopath outsider would.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
By amalgamating these museological devices into the artwork, Aram directly upsets the threefold impulse to pierce form with meaning, to arrest color with identity, and to neutralize bodies with limits.
—Julian Stern, Artforum, 24 Mar. 2026
If iron upsets your stomach, take it with a small snack.
—Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 13 Mar. 2026
This upsets her husband, Paul, who has returned with his and Roxie’s two young sons.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2026
Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Georgia Democrats are also looking to build off of November 2025 general election results that saw two challengers flip seats on the state's Public Service Commission with about 63% of the vote in landslide upsets.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 18 May 2026
With some teams on the metaphorical beach and others preparing for European finals, there could be even more scope for upsets than is usually the case in the final stages.
—Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 15 May 2026
At the 1950 World Cup, the United States defeated tournament favorites England 1–0 in one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history.
—Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
Injuries played a role in all three first-round upsets.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 6 May 2026
The Field of 64, established in 1985, worked fine, a manageable number that created just enough upsets to make the first round riveting.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Others have shown flashes of brilliance or loom as long-shot upsets.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Monkeys in the tourism hotspot have apparently learned to eat dirt to soothe stomach upsets caused by eating too much sweet, fatty and salty snacks fed to them by visitors, a new study found.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
This is a precarious tightrope to walk, with bond investors primed to sell if there’s a hint the biggest player in the market upsets the apple cart.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 May 2026
The sale — motivated by a need to remain on the right side of profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) in the summer of 2024 — is a moment that still upsets Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 11 May 2026
On the women’s side, where blowouts are many and upsets rare, some of those first-round games figure to be can’t-watch TV.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
That said, by design, travel often upsets our routine.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Daisy, whose backstory includes, in the first episode, a brief glimpse of Elisabeth Moss’ June, certainly upsets things, most often by reacting to Gilead’s penchant for public atrocities the way a non-sociopath outsider would.
—Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
By amalgamating these museological devices into the artwork, Aram directly upsets the threefold impulse to pierce form with meaning, to arrest color with identity, and to neutralize bodies with limits.
—Julian Stern, Artforum, 24 Mar. 2026
If iron upsets your stomach, take it with a small snack.
—Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 13 Mar. 2026
This upsets her husband, Paul, who has returned with his and Roxie’s two young sons.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
This 500-level event drew a smattering of US and Australia players, but was mostly competed by the core Asia contingent of pros and featured a slew of upsets and surprises along the way.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Georgia Democrats are also looking to build off of November 2025 general election results that saw two challengers flip seats on the state's Public Service Commission with about 63% of the vote in landslide upsets.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 18 May 2026
With some teams on the metaphorical beach and others preparing for European finals, there could be even more scope for upsets than is usually the case in the final stages.
—Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 15 May 2026
At the 1950 World Cup, the United States defeated tournament favorites England 1–0 in one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history.
—Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
Injuries played a role in all three first-round upsets.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 6 May 2026
The Field of 64, established in 1985, worked fine, a manageable number that created just enough upsets to make the first round riveting.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Others have shown flashes of brilliance or loom as long-shot upsets.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Monkeys in the tourism hotspot have apparently learned to eat dirt to soothe stomach upsets caused by eating too much sweet, fatty and salty snacks fed to them by visitors, a new study found.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upsets
Verb
-
The worms thrash and move erratically with a snake-like motion that disturbs the topsoil.—
Maria Braganini,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
There are lots of things weightlessness disturbs, even in the short run.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The South Carolina Supreme Court overturns Murdaugh's murder convictions and life sentence.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
-
The decision overturns voters' approval of a new congressional map that would have given Democrats an advantage in 10 House districts, leaving just one safe Republican seat.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Going to bed and waking at wildly different times disrupts circadian rhythm even when total hours look adequate on paper.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
19 May 2026
-
This cycle disrupts weather patterns globally, including in Chicago.—
David Yeomans,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Analysts say the reason global markets were not immediately hit by the full impact of disruptions to Middle Eastern crude supplies is that commercial inventories, government strategic reserves, and tankers already at sea have acted as buffers.—
,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
Iran’s neighbors across the Persian Gulf could face severe disruptions to internet connection, potentially impacting critical oil and gas exports as well as banking.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
And if someone bothers Anaia, Racine is there to fight for her.—
Jourdain Searles,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
-
An unconventional structure or new approach bothers them not a whit.—
Mac Barnett,
Longreads,
5 May 2026
Verb
-
Based on a tragic true-life incident, director Joe Carnahan's survival thriller stars Zachary Levi as one of four friends who head out on a fishing expedition and their boat capsizes in a nasty storm.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The group gets stranded at sea off the coast of Florida when their boat capsizes, leading Coast Guard Captain Timothy Close (Duhamel) to oversee the efforts to bring them home as a storm looms.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Nobody ever confuses two white NASCAR drivers!—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
The odor masks the scent of animals' preferred vegetables and confuses insect pests, including aphids, carrot flies, cabbage worms and loopers, spider mites, thrips, and Japanese beetles.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
However, several other disturbances broke out as hundreds of people on the beach attempted to leave simultaneously, officials noted.—
Louis Casiano , Brooke Taylor,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
-
Reynolds said according to dispatch, from the start of the year through April, Keller officers responded to at least 61 calls for services due to disturbances that involved e-bike or motorized bikes.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Upsets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upsets. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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