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.

But for the smaller companies upstream of those behemoths, the current environment could prove fatal.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

"It turned onto its back and they thought that it was dead. But by the time we went back, it was back onto its right side and it had swum a bit upstream," he explained.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

War in the Middle East already has affected the supply of plastic packaging significantly, according to Slutzker, who noted that Asian refineries and upstream facilities are unable to get the material they need for processing.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

The Spanish energy company will get its first Venezuelan cargo next week and upstream production has recovered, which combined offer improved cash flow generation, Borkhataria says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

They crossed it and reached the end of the bridge on the upstream side.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

upstream

Example Sentences

Related Words