Upset — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /(ˌ)əp-ˈset/ (verb) /ˈəp-ˌset/ (noun) up·set

Meaning & Definition of Upset

Upset (verb)

  1. to force out of the usual upright, level, or proper position, overturn
  2. to trouble mentally or emotionally, disturb the poise of
  3. to throw into disorder

Upset (noun)

  1. an act of overturning, overturn
  2. an act of throwing into disorder, disarrangement
  3. a state of disorder, confusion

Upset (adjective)

  1. emotionally disturbed or agitated; especially, angry or unhappy
  2. affected with minor physical disturbance or disorder

Upset (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty

    "she was upset by the unexplained change in plans"

    similar: aflutter, antsy, anxious, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey, het up, hinky (slang), hung up, ill at ease, insecure, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, perturbed, queasy, tense, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, uptight, worried, keyed up, on edge, on pins and needles, on tenterhooks
    related: aggrieved, bothered, concerned, disquieted, distraught, distressed, disturbed, freaked, freaked-out, shook-up, apprehensive, foreboding, hesitant, misgiving, fretful, fretting, stewing, vexed, qualmish, qualmy, flustered, twittered, undone, unnerved, unstrung, obsessed, preoccupied, restless, fidgety, flighty, fluttery, high-strung, hypertense, skittish, spooky
    opposite: calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed
    near: confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure, controlled, self-controlled

Upset (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

    "the smallest things can upset us if we're already stressed"

    similar: agitate, ail, alarm, bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, disturb, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, hagride, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, weird out, worry
    related: aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy, exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put off, put out, rile, vex, bedevil, haunt, plague, abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, jar, mortify, nonplus, rattle, shake up, daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, unnerve
    opposite: calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize
    near: allay, alleviate, assuage, appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

  2. to turn on one's side or upside down

    "the narrow boat upsets easily and should be handled with care"

    similar: capsize, overturn, turn over, turn turtle
    related: invert, overset, overthrow, pitchpole, topple, tump (over) (chiefly Southern), upend, careen, heel, keel, lean, list, tilt, tip, collapse, fall, founder, give
    opposite: right
    near: stand up, straighten (up), erect, raise

  3. to undo the proper order or arrangement of

    "the change in the bus schedule upset our daily routine"

    similar: confuse, derange, disarrange, disarray, discompose, dishevel, disjoint, dislocate, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, hash, jumble, mess (up), mix (up), muddle, muss, rumple, scramble, shuffle, tousle, tumble
    related: embroil, entangle, snarl, tangle, agitate, perturb, stir (up), unsettle, clutter
    opposite: arrange, array, dispose, draw up, marshal, order, organize, range, regulate, straighten (up), tidy
    near: align, line, line up, queue, classify, codify, methodize, systematize, systemize, adjust, fix, groom, make up, spruce (up), unscramble

Upset (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: derangement, dislocation, disruption, disturbance
    related: convulsion, revolution, unsettledness, unsettlement, upheaval

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Upset

The most common words with a similar meaning to Upset:

Slang: hinky
aflutter, antsy, anxious, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey, het up, hung up, ill at ease, insecure, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, perturbed, queasy, tense, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, uptight, worried, keyed up, on edge, on pins and needles, on tenterhooks, agitate, ail, alarm, bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Upset

Words with the opposite meaning of Upset:

calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize, right, arrange, array, dispose, draw up, marshal, order, organize, range, regulate, straighten (up), tidy

Related Words for Upset

aggrieved, bothered, concerned, disquieted, distraught, distressed, disturbed, freaked, freaked-out, shook-up, apprehensive, foreboding, hesitant, misgiving, fretful, fretting, stewing, vexed, qualmish, qualmy, flustered, twittered, undone, unnerved, unstrung, obsessed, preoccupied, restless, fidgety, flighty

Near Antonyms of Upset

confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure, controlled, self-controlled, allay, alleviate, assuage, appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate, stand up, erect, raise, align, line, line up, queue, classify, codify, methodize, systematize, systemize, adjust, fix, groom

Word Forms of Upset

Inflections: upsetting, upsets

Derived words: upsetter (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Upset

First known use: 1677t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Upset

Words & Phrases Containing Upset

upset price, upset the apple cart

Frequently Asked Questions about Upset

What does "Upset" mean?

"Upset" means to force out of the usual upright, level, or proper position, overturn. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to force out of the usual upright, level, or proper position, overturn. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Upset"?

Other words for "Upset" include aflutter, antsy, anxious, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey and het up. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Upset" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Upset"?

There are 192 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Upset". Common alternatives include aflutter, antsy, anxious, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey, het up, hinky and hung up.

What is the opposite of "Upset"?

Antonyms of "Upset" include calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed and compose. Near antonyms include confident, self-assured, self-confident and sure.

How do you use "Upset" in a sentence?

Examples of "Upset" in a sentence: "she was upset by the unexplained change in plans"; "the smallest things can upset us if we're already stressed"; "the narrow boat upsets easily and should be handled with care".

Is "Upset" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Upset" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Upset" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Upset" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Upset"?

"Upset" is pronounced /(ˌ)əp-ˈset/ as a verb and /ˈəp-ˌset/ as a noun and divided into syllables as up·set.