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Showing results for upstream. Search instead for upstrea.
Definitions

upstream

[uhp-streem] / ˈʌpˈstrim /
ADJECTIVE
difficult
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ambitious arduous burdensome challenging crucial demanding laborious onerous painful problematic severe strenuous tough troublesome
WEAK
backbreaker bothersome difficile easier said than done effortful exacting formidable galling gargantuan hard-won heavy herculean immense intricate irritating labored no picnic not easy operose problem prohibitive rigid stiff titanic toilsome trying unyielding uphill wearisome
Antonyms
STRONGEST
easy effortless facile helpful nice trivial
WEAK
calm free friendly manageable plain simple sociable straightforward uncomplicated

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 full Fish Moon refers to when shad fish came upstream to spawn and Breaking Ice Moon highlights the arrival of warmer weather.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

Maybank maintains a neutral stance on the oil-and-gas sector, with Dialog as its top pick, citing upstream exposure and stable midstream income.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

The question is whether that caution is traveling far enough upstream, before patients are symptomatic.

From Slate • Mar. 22, 2026

In this environment, an effective national counterterrorism strategy would likely point to stopping terrorism further upstream, interrupting radicalization and violent mobilization at an earlier stage.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

Next morning dawned colder and foggier than ever, and even Wolf seemed dejected as he led them upstream.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.