rebellion

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noun re·bel·lion \ri-ˈbel-yən\

: an effort by many people to change the government or leader of a country by the use of protest or violence

: open opposition toward a person or group in authority

: refusal to obey rules or accept normal standards of behavior, dress, etc.

Full Definition of REBELLION

1

:  opposition to one in authority or dominance

2

a :  open, armed, and usually unsuccessful defiance of or resistance to an established government

b :  an instance of such defiance or resistance

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Examples of REBELLION

1. The king's army suppressed the rebellion.
2. The unfair tax laws sparked a rebellion.
3. The peasants rose in rebellion.
4. She's the head of a rebellion against the leaders of the party.
5. Recent election losses have led to open rebellion among some party members, who are calling for a complete change of leadership.

First Known Use of REBELLION

14th century

Related to REBELLION

Synonyms

insurgence, insurgency, insurrection, mutiny, outbreak, revolt, revolution, rising, uprising

Antonyms

compliance, obedience, submission, subordinateness, subordination, tractability, tractableness

Related Words

coup, coup d'état (or coup d'etat), overthrow; misprision, sedition, treachery, treason; sabotage, subversion

Near Antonyms

counterinsurgency, counterrevolution

Synonym Discussion of REBELLION

rebellion, revolution, uprising, revolt, insurrection, mutiny mean an outbreak against authority. rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful <open rebellion against the officers>. revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government) <a political revolution that toppled the monarchy>. uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion <quickly put down the uprising>. revolt and insurrection imply an armed uprising that quickly fails or succeeds <a revolt by the Young Turks that surprised party leaders> <an insurrection of oppressed laborers>. mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority <a mutiny led by the ship's cook>.