Synonyms of mutiny

mutiny 1 of 2

noun

ˈmyü-tə-nē 

as in revolt

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

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• counterinsurgency
• counterrevolution

mutiny

2 of 2

verb

as in to rebel

to rise up against established authority

the party's conservative faction mutinied just before the election

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rebel
• revolt
• kick over the traces
• disobey
• resist
• fight
• mock
• contest
• revolutionize
• combat
• withstand
• oppose
• defy
• buck

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• follow
• comply (with)
• submit
• serve
• obey
• mind
• attend

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun mutiny differ from other similar words?

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

The synonyms rebellion and mutiny are sometimes interchangeable, but rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

How do revolt and insurrection relate to one another, in the sense of mutiny?

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 is it sensible to use revolution instead of mutiny?

While the synonyms revolution and mutiny are close in meaning, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

When can uprising be used instead of mutiny?

Although the words uprising and mutiny have much in common, uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mutiny

Noun

This includes leader assassination attempts by political opponents or lone wolves or mutinies by disgruntled soldiers who might even march on the presidential palace to demand higher pay, promotions or other policy concessions. —John Joseph Chin, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025

Playoffs have been under the shadow of league star Napheesa Collier speaking with pointed criticism of commissioner Cathy Engelbert in what amounts to a mutiny against the commish, with other players backing Collier. —Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025

Verb

French sailors aboard two ships off the Crimean Peninsula mutinied, pulled down the tricolor, ran up the Red flag and then went ashore to join a pro-Bolshevik demonstration. —Thomas E. Ricks, New York Times, 19 May 2024

Jackie Calmes: McCarthy flopped, Gaetz mutinied, but blame the chaos on the entire Republican Party. —Helen Li, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2023