rebellion

Definition of rebellionnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun rebellion differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rebellion are insurrection, mutiny, revolt, revolution, and uprising. While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

Where would mutiny be a reasonable alternative to rebellion?

The words mutiny and rebellion can be used in similar contexts, but mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

How do revolt and insurrection relate to one another, in the sense of rebellion?

Both 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

When might revolution be a better fit than rebellion?

The words revolution and rebellion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

In what contexts can uprising take the place of rebellion?

While in some cases nearly identical to rebellion, uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rebellion But the mass rebellion Brown predicted never materialized, leaving him and his comrades trapped inside the arsenal. Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 26 June 2026 Prince Harry gave the ring (ironically a sign of rebellion and new beginnings) to his new wife Meghan Markle in 2018. Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 26 June 2026 The surname is specifically an act of rebellion and defiance to Christianity. Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026 In the press release for the album, you were quoted using the word rebellion when talking about rock and roll. Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rebellion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebellion
Noun
  • The Declaration of Independence, often perceived as a tax revolt, explicitly mentions taxes only once among its 27 grievances, dedicating just eight words to the issue.
    Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Soon, this kind of spirit will carry the 13 colonies to protest, revolt and win the American Revolution.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • His clippings included reporting on Black students facing higher rates of suspension for willful defiance and a cover story on Oak Park residents who offered a history of the neighborhood.
    Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2026
  • One defendant convicted by a jury continues to engage in noisy defiance.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • The pair took a big swing in 2022 around the first anniversary of the Capitol insurrection on January 6.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • The violence, described as a failed insurrection by President Cyril Ramaphosa, vandalized more than 160 shopping malls, led to tens of thousands of job losses, and cost the economy roughly $3 billion.
    Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • Marji’s rebelliousness, both admirable and terrifying for those who love her, is her salient characteristic.
    Hillary Chute, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
  • The pseudo-goth hair and costume choices speak to an inner rebelliousness that isn’t so much unleashed as forced loose by a system that values the appearance of a mythical impartiality over her humanity, leaving her with little recourse but to step outside the confines of the law.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • An uprising that left inmates in control of a detention center has ended with some people injured, North Carolina officials say.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 29 June 2026
  • Secessionist uprisings in the provinces like Tatarstan or Bashkortistan or Chechnya.
    Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.
    David Brooks, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.
    Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Amid the mutiny in the House, Johnson canceled unrelated votes, struggling to get enough support to move the legislation.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • The war's disastrous optics erode his legitimacy, amplified by internal dissent like a viral military blogger's mutiny warning and soldiers threatening officers.
    Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • Daemon chastising Ulf and Hugh over their disobedience, sowing the seeds of their discontent.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • The Catholic Church teaches that all other people are conceived with original sin as a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden.
    Bridget Retzloff, The Conversation, 2 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rebellion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebellion. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on rebellion

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster