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
Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2025
If the junta’s leaders were to try to prevent China from conducting military activities at Kyaukpyu, China could further seed insurgencies near the portto protect its investments.
—Dan Swift, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
But for Biglari, one of the chain’s largest investors, the rollback merely stoked the flames of his 14-year insurgency against the company.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
Rather than quelling terrorist attacks, permanently suppressing Palestinian aspirations would likely fuel an endless insurgency.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insurgency
Cite this Entry
“Insurgency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insurgency. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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insurgency
noun
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