uprising

noun

up·​ris·​ing ˈəp-ˌrī-ziŋ 

: an act or instance of rising up

especially : a usually localized act of popular violence in defiance usually of an established government

Synonyms

• revolt
• insurrection
• rebellion
• mutiny

Choose the Right Synonym for uprising

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

Examples of uprising in a Sentence

The government quickly put down the uprising.

the uprising was quickly and brutally suppressed

Recent Examples on the Web

More multicasts of our sonic uprisings to compete with America's myopic narrowcasting. —Rodney Carmichael, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025

In 2015, the Basateen al-Razi district of Damascus was destroyed as punishment for the population’s uprising against Bashar al-Assad’s regime. —Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025

Though the family dynamics anchor the story, the Fenian uprising led by sister/brother duo Ellen (Niamh McCormack) and Paddy Cochran (Seamus O’Hara) are also causing major chaos on the streets of Dublin and within the company’s walls. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025

The German Peasants’ War was the greatest popular uprising in western Europe before the French Revolution. —Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for uprising

• advising
• apprising
• arising
• baptizing
• capsizing
• chastising
• comprising
• despising
• devising
• disguising
• downsizing
• excising

Kids Definition

uprising

noun

up·​ris·​ing ˈəp-ˌrī-ziŋ 

: an act or instance of rising up