Synonyms of revolution

revolution

noun

ˌre-və-ˈlü-shən 

1

as in rotation

a rapid turning about on an axis or central point

revved the engine to 3000 revolutions per minute

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rotation
• curve
• spin
• roll
• wheel
• twirl
• reel
• twist
• spiral
• gyration
• circle
• circulation
• orbit
• curl
• pirouette
• coil
• circuit
• whirl
• ring
• round
• whorl
• swirl
• eddy

2

as in revolt

open fighting against authority (as one's own government)

the revolution by which the American colonies gained their independence from Great Britain necessitated going up against the world's most powerful army

Synonyms & Similar Words

• revolt
• uprising
• insurrection
• rebellion
• mutiny
• insurgency
• outbreak
• insurgence
• coup
• overthrow
• rising
• treachery
• treason
• coup d'état
• sedition
• subversion
• sabotage
• coup d'etat
• misprision

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• counterinsurgency
• counterrevolution

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun revolution differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of revolution are insurrection, mutiny, rebellion, revolt, and uprising. While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

When is mutiny a more appropriate choice than revolution?

Although the words mutiny and revolution have much in common, mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

When would rebellion be a good substitute for revolution?

The meanings of rebellion and revolution largely overlap; however, rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

How are the words revolt and insurrection related as synonyms of revolution?

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 could uprising be used to replace revolution?

The words uprising and revolution are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of revolution

But Trump’s lawyers argued that Congress did not intend for the president to only deploy the guard in the face of full-scale revolutions, the administrations argument, filed in court Monday, shows. —Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2025

Oil prices, for example, spiked dramatically in the wake of the 1979 Iranian revolution that overthrew Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and brought the Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to power. —Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 18 June 2025

Although there is a diversity of voices in any country, many Iranians ultimately believe that the Islamic Republic was never a guardian of the nation, but a keeper of its own revolution. —Nazanin Boniadi, Time, 17 June 2025

Following the Iranian revolution, the religious authorities who assumed power banned chess over gambling concerns. —Diaa Hadid, NPR, 17 June 2025