WordValeupheaval
a sudden, violent change
In more detail
1. (noun) a sudden, violent, or dramatic change or disruption in something
2. (noun) a sudden upward movement or heaving of the ground or earth's surface
Examples
- 1. The company went through a major upheaval when the new CEO took over and changed everything.
- 2. The earthquake caused an upheaval of the rock layers beneath the surface.
How to use upheaval
Upheaval typically refers to significant, often disruptive changes in society, politics, or institutions, emphasizing the dramatic and often traumatic nature of the shift. It can also describe geological movements. The term carries connotations of violence or intensity and is often used when describing major historical or social transformations that create chaos or instability.
Common phrases
- social upheaval
- political upheaval
- great upheaval
- period of upheaval
- cause upheaval
- widespread upheaval
Synonyms
turmoil · disruption · convulsion · commotion · disturbance
Opposites
stability · calm · peace
Word family
upheaval (noun) · heave (verb) · heaval (archaic noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use 'upheaval' for minor changes or gradual shifts, but it specifically implies sudden, major disruption rather than slow evolution.
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