uproar
/ˈʌprɔː
/noun
1A loud and impassioned noise or disturbance: the room was in an uproar [mass noun]: the assembly dissolved in uproar...
- Suddenly, an uproar of shouts rang through the halls as both writers and editors alike came to see what was causing the commotion.
- There was an uproar in the audience while everyone tried to scream louder than the person next to him or her.
- The uproar that followed was both spontaneous and tremendous.
Synonyms
turmoil, disorder, confusion, chaos, commotion, disturbance, tumult, turbulence, mayhem, pandemonium, havoc, bedlam, all hell broken loose;
noise, din, clamour, hubbub, racket, row, clangour;
babble, shouting, yelling, babel;
West Indian bangarang
informal hullabaloo, rumpus
1.1A public expression of protest or outrage: it caused an uproar in the press...
- Only after an uproar from the public did he begrudgingly give the chairman of the residents' committee a few minutes.
- Suddenly the public was in an uproar, and the producers in Hollywood took up their cause.
- This started an uproar of public debate, so the reporters went after Joshua again.
Synonyms
outcry, furore, outrage, howl of protest, protest, protestation, complaint, objection;
clamour, fuss, commotion, hue and cry, row, ruckus, brouhaha;
opposition, dissent, vociferation, indignation
informal hullabaloo, rumpus, ballyhoo, stink, ruction
Origin
Early 16th century: from Middle Dutch uproer, from op 'up' + roer 'confusion', associated with roar.
The origins of uproar have no connection with roaring. It came from Dutch, from up ‘up’ and roer ‘confusion’. It sounded as though it could be a native English form, and people associated the second element with roar, shifting the meaning from its original sense of ‘rebellion, uprising’ to ‘loud confused noise’.