upheaval
up-HEE-vul
/ʌpˈhiːvəl/
A violent or sudden change or disruption to something.
Often implies a structural or foundational change, like the ground shifting beneath one's feet.
The story behind the word. Originally a geological term describing the lifting of the earth's crust by internal forces. It moved into social contexts to describe 'bottom-up' changes that toss the existing order into the air.
Word relationships
- disruption: 'Disruption' can be minor or temporary; 'upheaval' is usually profound and lasting.
- turmoil: 'Turmoil' emphasizes the confusion and noise; 'upheaval' emphasizes the structural shift.
- stability: The state of being stable and unlikely to change.
- stagnation: A state of no progress or change, often in a negative sense.
Commonly confused with
- insurrection: An 'insurrection' is a specific act of rebellion; 'upheaval' is the general state of massive change that may result from it.
Word family
- upheave (verb): To lift or heave up from beneath.
Collocations
- political upheaval
- social upheaval
- emotional upheaval
- violent upheaval
Example sentences
- "The political upheaval of the 1960s changed the face of the nation." Describing social change.
- "The upheaval of the earth's crust was followed by a social upheaval of equal magnitude." Geological and social metaphor.
Memory hook
Imagine the ground 'heaving' up during an earthquake. Everything on top gets tossed around. The ground heaves up.
When not to use
Not for minor inconveniences; use it for events that disturb the entire order of a system.
Fun facts
- The word was first used in the 1800s specifically to describe the formation of mountains.
Explore more words
cataclysm, disruption, disrupt, tectonic, clash, revolutionize
Also appears in
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