Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

up in arms

ADVERB
upset and ready to fight
Synonyms
WEAK
at odds at swords' points at war hostile in an uproar in the midst of battle prepared for war provoked wrought up

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The teams were up in arms and complained.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

U.S. voters aren’t the only ones up in arms about affordability.

From Barron's • Jan. 8, 2026

The rapper’s overhaul of the dwelling saw it reduced to little more than a concrete shell, decimating almost all of Ando’s original design—and leaving design lovers up in arms over its destruction.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 11, 2025

Members of Parliament are up in arms because men they believe spied on them won’t face trial.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

They put a safety pin through the Queen’s nose and the entire country was up in arms.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García