as in rebels
a person who rises up against authority
the government subjected the insurgents to the most inhuman torture imaginable
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Recent Examples of insurgents
That kind of chaos could easily spill over Iran’s borders, and not just by land; the Persian Gulf is narrow, and would not pose much of an obstacle to terrorists or insurgents who cross it in speedboats.
—
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Paxton will counter that Texas runoffs often reward insurgents.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026
After Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, the new theocracy also battled Kurdish insurgents.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
At least 169 people were killed after insurgents raided a village in a remote area of South Sudan, a local official said Monday.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
At least 169 people were killed after insurgents raided a village in a remote area of South Sudan, a local official said Monday.
—CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
The series of coups in countries around the Sahel in recent years have stemmed from the instability caused by insurgents.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Amid the nods to social media and cancel culture and the shallow perils of modern celebrity, the image of Taylor-Joy’s disciplined group of insurgents, who speak in almost archaic, poetic dialogue, strikes a bracing contrast.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
Taiwo Adebayo, a researcher specializing in Boko Haram at the Institute for Security Studies, said the army began an offensive last month, proactively moving into hideouts to engage the insurgents.
—Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Paxton will counter that Texas runoffs often reward insurgents.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026
After Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, the new theocracy also battled Kurdish insurgents.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
At least 169 people were killed after insurgents raided a village in a remote area of South Sudan, a local official said Monday.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
At least 169 people were killed after insurgents raided a village in a remote area of South Sudan, a local official said Monday.
—CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
The series of coups in countries around the Sahel in recent years have stemmed from the instability caused by insurgents.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Amid the nods to social media and cancel culture and the shallow perils of modern celebrity, the image of Taylor-Joy’s disciplined group of insurgents, who speak in almost archaic, poetic dialogue, strikes a bracing contrast.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
Taiwo Adebayo, a researcher specializing in Boko Haram at the Institute for Security Studies, said the army began an offensive last month, proactively moving into hideouts to engage the insurgents.
—Dyepkazah Shibayan, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insurgents
Noun
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The rebels also fired drones at Israel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
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The choice was hailed by the president of Azerbaijan and the leader of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, among other allies.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The 25-year-old Indianapolis native plays Willa, the daughter of former revolutionaries DiCaprio and Taylor, who goes on the lam when unsavory characters from her parents’ past attempt to track her down.—
Heather Bushman,
IndyStar,
13 Mar. 2026
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Paul Thomas Anderson updates the story of revolutionaries in post-1960s burnout to today — and possibly tomorrow.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insurgents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insurgents. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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