as in revolutionary
taking part in a rebellion
any insurgent soldiers will be dealt with harshly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in rebel
a person who rises up against authority
the government subjected the insurgents to the most inhuman torture imaginable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 insurgent
Max Foster, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
And their coalition is divided between a centrist establishment and an insurgent progressive wing with diverging priorities in addressing inequality.
—Nathan Meyers, The Conversation, 11 July 2025
The Week Uk, TheWeek, 12 Apr. 2026
This long list of accomplishments doesn’t even mention her work with the Raconteurs, her co-writes with Guy fuckin’ Clark, or that one of her records (2013’s Like a Rose) is a stone-cold classic of 2010s insurgent country.
—Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insurgent
Adjective
Although some analysts have suggested Starmer may quietly be pleased with the resignation of his main rival and potential successor, the toppling of Rayner caps off what has been a dreadful summer for Labour, in which the party has lost more ground in the polls to the insurgent Reform UK.
—Max Foster, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
And their coalition is divided between a centrist establishment and an insurgent progressive wing with diverging priorities in addressing inequality.
—Nathan Meyers, The Conversation, 11 July 2025
Noun
Myanmar's military junta doesn't control the whole territory; much of it is controlled by insurgent groups and warlords; while Cambodian politics has been dominated by one family since the 1980s.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 12 Apr. 2026
This long list of accomplishments doesn’t even mention her work with the Raconteurs, her co-writes with Guy fuckin’ Clark, or that one of her records (2013’s Like a Rose) is a stone-cold classic of 2010s insurgent country.
—Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insurgent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insurgent
Adjective
-
The revolutionary found welcome audiences across the Southland with lectures and Spanish-language radio show appearances to talk about what was going on in his home country.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The 14-story structure was nothing short of revolutionary at the time.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Rwanda frames its role as defensive measures to protect its territory from Hutu rebels responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The series emphasizes hope and the power of collective action, providing a nuanced look at both the rebels and the individuals within the Empire, ultimately highlighting the enduring relevance of its themes of oppression and resistance in today’s world.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The film explores the iconic partnership between Fonteyn, a 42-year-old prima ballerina and Britain’s most famous dancer, and Rudolf Nureyev, the 23-year-old rebellious Soviet defector who became her partner on stage (and, it was rumored, off it as well).—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
-
When the skyscraper where Rayburn and his family lives is destroyed in an explosion, Creasy attempts to regain his military prowess in his determination to protect Rayburn’s rebellious teen daughter Poe (Billie Boullet), who has been targeted by the terrorists.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Russell fabricates a lie with the rest of the villains, and the heroes believe it, despite a warning from one traitorous tribemate.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Dec. 2025
-
That video drew the ire of President Donald Trump, who deemed it traitorous.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
25 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Mazzini therefore proposed to rely solely upon a national insurrectionary movement, aiming at unity in a free republic.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The government alleges the Sotos were part of a group of people who created and distributed insurrectionary materials called zines.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 6,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Ships have increasingly traveled through the Panama Canal as shipments are rerouted and buyers purchase from other countries to avoid commerce through now-treacherous Middle Eastern waterway.—
Alma Solis,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Ben hunts, and Sasha tries to survive, not just him but various treacherous and dangerous elements that make that mountain climb at the start look like kids play.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Then President Donald Trump—likely frustrated by the cascading economic consequences of Iran’s blockade, the regime’s refusal to capitulate, the growing unease among his MAGA base, or the apparent leaks from mutinous advisers inside the White House—put forward an apocalyptic ultimatum.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
-
And the crowd, so mutinous and angry on Saturday, were positive and supportive throughout.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insurgent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insurgent. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
