upheaval meaning

upheaval as a noun

1. a state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally)
   • the industrial revolution was a period of great turbulence

   Synonyms: turbulence, Sturm und Drang

   Type of: disorder

   Kinds: agitation, roller coaster, violence

2. a violent disturbance
   • the convulsions of the stock market

   Synonyms: convulsion, turmoil

   Type of: disturbance

3. (geology) a rise of land to a higher elevation (as in the process of mountain building)

   Synonyms: uplift, upthrow, upthrust

   Type of: rise

   Related forms: upheave

4. disturbance usually in protest

   Synonyms: agitation, excitement, turmoil, hullabaloo

   Type of: disturbance

How to pronounce upheaval

upheaval is pronounced /əpˈhivəl/ in American English. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.

Words that rhyme with upheaval

• evil
• medieval
• primeval
• weevil
• retrieval