What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
peripety
Example
The peripety in the movie's plot caught the audience off guard. [peripety: noun]
Example
The play's peripeties kept the audience engaged until the very end. [peripeties: plural noun]
upheaval
Example
The country experienced an upheaval after the revolution. [upheaval: noun]
Example
The company underwent a period of upheaval during the merger. [upheaval: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Upheaval is more commonly used than peripety in everyday language, especially in news or political contexts. Peripety is a more specialized term that is typically used in literary or dramatic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between peripety and upheaval?
Both peripety and upheaval are formal words that may be more appropriate in academic or literary writing than in casual conversation. However, upheaval may be more versatile and can be used in a wider range of contexts, including news or political reporting.
