insurgency
noun
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Insurgencies fall into the category of "irregular warfare", since an insurgency normally lacks the organization of a revolution, even though it has the same aims. Revolutions often begin within a country's armed forces, whereas insurgencies often arise in remote areas, where they gain strength slowly by winning the confidence of rural populations. An insurgency may be based on ethnic or religious identity, or its roots may be basically political or economic. Since insurgencies are rarely strong enough to face a national army head-on, insurgents (often called guerrillas) tend to use such tactics as bombing, kidnapping, hostage taking, and hijacking.
Examples of insurgency in a Sentence
ABC News,
23 June 2026
In the midst of past progressive insurgencies, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s upset victory in the 2018 NY-14 Democratic primary and Jamaal Bowman’s 2020 win in NY-16, NYC unions were largely united in support of the incumbent representatives vying to hold onto their seats.
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Paxton Honerkamp,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
The violence follows a mass abduction in the same region, part of a wider insurgency and kidnapping crisis that has killed thousands.
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Dyepkazah Shibayan,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
Peasant growers’ resistance to these operations fueled the Shining Path insurgency by providing recruits and creating an opening for the guerrillas to interpose themselves between the farmers and the police.
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Michelle D. Paranzino,
The Conversation,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for insurgency
Cite this Entry
“Insurgency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insurgency. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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insurgency
noun
