1
a
: opposing or taking arms against a government or ruler
b
: of or relating to rebels
the rebel camp
2
rebelled; rebelling
1
a
: to oppose or disobey one in authority or control
b
: to renounce and resist by force the authority of one's government
2
a
: to act in or show opposition or disobedience
rebelled against the conventions of polite society
b
: to feel or exhibit anger or revulsion
rebelled at the injustice of life
Examples of rebel in a Sentence
Adjective
today's rebel chefs feel free to ignore the dictates of classic French cuisine
Noun
The government captured six armed rebels.
He was a rebel against the school administration.
He is a typical teenage rebel.
Verb
When the government imposed more taxes, the people rebelled.
The protesters are rebelling against the new tax law.
Children often rebel against their parents.
Recent Examples on the Web
Caroline Rose, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
Iran and later Russia dispatched troops to save him, while Turkey and Gulf states backed rebel militias.
—Robin Yassin-Kassab, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
The rebels also cited the need to take out the massive scam operations as justification for their offensive – which analysts say China likely greenlit.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Benjamin Nathans
september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Set after the Norman invasion of England, Rob (Patten) witnesses the execution of his father, a Saxon forester, which incites him to rebel.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebel
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Nine months after the longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad was toppled by a rebel offensive, Syria faces a litany of new challenges.
—Caroline Rose, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
Iran and later Russia dispatched troops to save him, while Turkey and Gulf states backed rebel militias.
—Robin Yassin-Kassab, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
Alcalá has pleaded guilty to collaborating with Colombia’s FARC rebels.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
The rebels also cited the need to take out the massive scam operations as justification for their offensive – which analysts say China likely greenlit.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
By the early post-World War II period, the demographic cohort most likely to rebel against authority—namely, youth—had been molded by Soviet institutions in which the revolutionary teachings of Marxism-Leninism had achieved the status of sacred canon.
—Benjamin Nathans
september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Set after the Norman invasion of England, Rob (Patten) witnesses the execution of his father, a Saxon forester, which incites him to rebel.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebel
Cite this Entry
“Rebel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebel. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rebel
1 of 3 adjective
reb·el
ˈreb-əl 
1
: being or fighting against one's government or ruler
2
: not obeying
rebel
2 of 3 noun
: a person who refuses to give in to authority
rebel
3 of 3 verb
re·bel
ri-ˈbel
rebelled; rebelling
1
: to be against or fight against authority and especially the authority of one's government
2
: to feel or show anger or strong dislike
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