uproar

An uproar is a loud and widespread public outcry or disturbance, typically arising in response to a perceived wrong, controversial statement, policy, or action. It involves intense emotions, widespread discussion, and often broad media attention. Uproars can take the form of street protests, online campaigns, petitions, boycotts, or heated public commentary; they may also occur primarily in news coverage and social networks without on-street demonstrations. The scale and duration of an uproar can vary from a brief media flare to a sustained crisis affecting organizations or communities.

The term originates from the image of a crowd breaking into a rising roar, and it is documented in English since the early modern period as a compound of up and roar.

In usage, uproar typically refers to vocal and public outrage rather than physical violence; it is often distinguished from related terms such as controversy, protest, or riot by its emphasis on loud reaction and media prominence rather than necessarily on disruption or harm.

Causes and effects: Uproars are usually triggered by actions or statements that provoke perceptions of injustice, hypocrisy, or policy harm. Reactions may include official statements, policy reversals, apologies, or reforms, but may also persist without resolution. In contemporary contexts, social media can accelerate and amplify uproars, shaping public discourse and institutional responses.