uproar

noun

up·​roar ˈəp-ˌrȯr How to pronounce uproar (audio)
Synonyms of uproar
: a state of commotion, excitement, or violent disturbance
an uproar over the proposed building development

Synonyms of uproar

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Examples of uproar in a Sentence

There was a lot of public uproar over the proposed jail. There have been uproars in the past over similar proposals. The proposal caused an uproar. The town was in an uproar over the proposal to build a jail.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
New York City’s tax on second homes, which went into effect on July 1st, has sparked an uproar from billionaires and residents alike. — Giacomo Tognini, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Incensed by the uproar of the crowd in the video, Blanka leaps across the cage, scaling the walls and delivering an electric shock across the metal barrier. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 30 July 2026 The show even weathered a major uproar over the botched host transition that followed the death of beloved emcee Alex Trebek in 2020. — Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 Sony’s decision to stop physical disc production caused an uproar among gamers. — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for uproar

Word History

Etymology

by folk etymology from Dutch oproer, from Middle Dutch, from op up (akin to Old English ūp) + roer motion; akin to Old English hrēran to stir

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of uproar was in 1526

Rhymes for uproar

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Browse Nearby Words

upriver
uproar
uproarious
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Cite this Entry

“Uproar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uproar. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

uproar

noun
up·​roar ˈəp-ˌrō(ə)r How to pronounce uproar (audio)
-ˌrȯ(ə)r
: a state of commotion, excitement, or violent disturbance
Etymology

from Dutch oproer "revolt, uprising," from op "up" and roer "motion"; the English spelling and meaning influenced by the similarity of the English roar to Dutch roer

Word Origin
The -roar part of the word uproar has no connection with the sounds made by some animals and crowds. The first use of uproar was as the translation of the Dutch word oproer, meaning "uprising, rebellion, revolt." Thus, the first meaning of uproar was the same as the Dutch meaning of oproer. Nowadays, this sense of uproar is no longer used. Because people thought that the roar of uproar referred to loud cries and sounds, they began to use the word to mean "a noisy disturbance or commotion." This is the sense of uproar that has survived.

More from Merriam-Webster on uproar

Nglish: Translation of uproar for Spanish Speakers

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