uprising 1 of 2

Definition of uprisingnext
as in revolt
open fighting against authority (as one's own government) the uprising was quickly and brutally suppressed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

uprising

2 of 2

verb

present participle of uprise

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun uprising differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of uprising are insurrection, mutiny, rebellion, revolt, and revolution. While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

When would mutiny be a good substitute for uprising?

The words mutiny and uprising are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

When could rebellion be used to replace uprising?

The meanings of rebellion and uprising 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 uprising?

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

Where would revolution be a reasonable alternative to uprising?

In some situations, the words revolution and uprising are roughly equivalent. However, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

How does the noun uprising differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of uprising are insurrection, mutiny, rebellion, revolt, and revolution. While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

When would mutiny be a good substitute for uprising?

The words mutiny and uprising are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

When could rebellion be used to replace uprising?

The meanings of rebellion and uprising 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 uprising?

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

Where would revolution be a reasonable alternative to uprising?

In some situations, the words revolution and uprising are roughly equivalent. However, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of uprising
Noun
But like many political uprisings, the meaning of No Kings varies from protester to protester. Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2026 Absent an Iranian uprising, our goals should remain limited and focused on the nuclear program and ballistic missiles. Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
But was that uprising really such a good idea? The New Yorker, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for uprising
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uprising
Noun
  • As a history of the Arab revolt, Seven Pillars of Wisdom is sometimes lacking in accuracy; as an intimate memoir, however, the text is a classic.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
  • After enduring a series of mini-revolts from fans criticizing last spring’s casting announcement and December’s first-look trailer, Survivor 50 has gotten off to an encouraging start.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Tensions are rising nationally as the military operation in Iran continues and ICE officers appear in airports.
    Irene Wright, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Carr acknowledged the rising cost and sometimes inconvenient nature of sports streaming are frustrating fans, arguing the drawbacks ultimately outweigh the benefits.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • To get on a bus is to spend some time climbing aboard, or being pushed from behind, or being pulled up by the armpit.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
  • This weekend the heat is back, with inland valleys climbing into the mid-80s and San Francisco on track to hit 80 degrees for the eighth or ninth time this year.
    Greg Porter, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There were rebellions, insurrections and an Appian Way lined with crucifixions.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Meanwhile, a separate insurrection led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a Marxist political party, tore through the southern part of the country in the late 1980s, killing tens of thousands of people.
    Eranda Jayawickreme, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The patterns displayed during active sleep often resemble those seen during waking behaviors, supporting the idea that the brain may be reactivating prior experiences.
    Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
  • An ominous, inexplicable sound that floods dread into your every waking step, and that will eventually drive you to suicide or murder?
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The Walt Disney Company’s CEO transition is notable not just for who is ascending, but for how deliberately the company built financial stability around it by extending CFO Hugh Johnston’s contract months before a new CEO was even named.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
  • For the past three seasons, Carlsbad High School has been ascending the ranks of girls lacrosse.
    Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The stumbles provided ammunition to a bipartisan congressional rebellion that eventually led to overwhelming passage of a bill requiring release of all the files, although the DOJ has been slow to comply.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Seeing privileged young women wisen up to their standardized subjugation is bound to be less dramatic than witnessing a righteous workers’ rebellion.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Bloomberg reports that French banking giant BNP Paribas has been in the process of progressively rolling out new generative AI tools, including a new AI assistant that uses different large language models, depending on the use case.
    John Kell, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Meta is also rolling out WhatsApp summaries and recall features powered by its AI system, allowing users to revisit key information more easily.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Uprising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uprising. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

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