as in revolt
open fighting against authority (as one's own government) the famous insurrection of the slaves in ancient Rome under Spartacus

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the noun insurrection differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of insurrection are mutiny, rebellion, revolt, revolution, and uprising. While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," 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

In what contexts can mutiny take the place of insurrection?

The synonyms mutiny and insurrection are sometimes interchangeable, but mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

When is it sensible to use rebellion instead of insurrection?

The words rebellion and insurrection can be used in similar contexts, but rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

When can revolution be used instead of insurrection?

While in some cases nearly identical to insurrection, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

When is uprising a more appropriate choice than insurrection?

The meanings of uprising and insurrection largely overlap; however, uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

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 insurrection At the same time, Bradley grapples with the disgrace of her Season 3 actions (hiding her brother’s role in the January 6 insurrection) while investigating a chemical plant leak covered up by UBA, enlisting Chip (Mark Duplass) to help her. Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025 But neither the immigration protests in Los Angeles nor the crime rate in DC qualify as an insurrection, by any stretch of the imagination. William Hartung, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025 Yoon is on trial on charges of insurrection, which could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty. Reuters, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025 The charge was incitement of insurrection based on his challenge of the 2020 election results and on his speech on January 6. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insurrection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insurrection
Noun
  • Cracker Barrel was in the early stages of a major turnaround plan before its new logo and restaurant remodels ran into a right-wing revolt.
    Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The British eventually adopted harsh measures to end the revolt.
    Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In Budapest, after the uprising against the Communist regime, Andor — raised by his mother with idealized tales of his dead father — has his world turned upside down when a brutish man appears, claiming to be his true father.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
  • While Fonseca frames the uprising as a type of emergent phenomenon in his post and a YouTube video, examination of the source code by AI researcher Simon Willison shows that Fonseca specifically instructed the villagers to behave this way and even escalate the unrest over time.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Vance is fresh off a stay in the English countryside, where the staff of popular pub The Bull in Charlbury allegedly threatened a mutiny if they were forced to serve the staunch conservative.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2025
  • So no red eyes, no space mutinies — just words, structured to be helpful.
    Chris Reed, Oc Register, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • Kirk's assassination is the most high-profile example yet of what extremism researchers at the NCRI see as an increasingly dangerous normalization of political violence—often masked as satire, rebellion, or dark humor online.
    Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
  • One accommodation, the Rebel Suite, takes its design cues from the sea rebellions of Islay, full of nautical references, striking patterns, and bold green and blue hues.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Insurrection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insurrection. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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