as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
today's rebel chefs feel free to ignore the dictates of classic French cuisine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in insurgent
a person who rises up against authority
the rebel would not submit peacefully, even after he was captured
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to revolt
to rise up against established authority
the colonists rebelled in the wake of an onslaught of abuses
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 rebel
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
In a sport long defined by its rigidity and rigorous training, Liu, 20, is a rebel and role model for simply loving to skate.
—
Alice Park,
Time,
9 June 2026
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2026
And the old person who rebels is ridiculous.
—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
28 June 2026
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
Male guardians of this ideological camp circulated defamatory letters from prison, denouncing me for unveiling and rebelling against mandatory veiling.
—
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rebel
Adjective
FGC-9s have been built by underground designers in the most firearms-restrictive countries in Europe and churned out by rebel groups in Myanmar.
—
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
In a sport long defined by its rigidity and rigorous training, Liu, 20, is a rebel and role model for simply loving to skate.
—
Alice Park,
Time,
9 June 2026
Noun
When the conversation turned to the subject of war, however, the president would come alive, describing the kinds of fighter jets Russia used to bombard rebel positions in Syria and naming towns with stubborn pockets of resistance.
—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2026
And the old person who rebels is ridiculous.
—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
28 June 2026
Verb
That suggested fans were rebelling against high prices for tickets, or transportation.
—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
Male guardians of this ideological camp circulated defamatory letters from prison, denouncing me for unveiling and rebelling against mandatory veiling.
—
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for rebel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebel
Adjective
-
For seven seasons, a hodgepodge crew mixing Starfleet and the rebellious Maquis put aside their differences after they got zapped 70,000 lightyears away from Earth, deep into the uncharted Delta Quadrant.
-
This could bring about sudden ideas, or trigger rebellious impulses and creative imagination.
Noun
-
Gray is endorsed by Kansas City’s branch of the Democratic Socialists of America, and represents the insurgent left flank of the Democratic Party in the race.
-
Out went what was left of country-club Republicanism; in came the Fifth Avenue insurgent and his MAGA hordes.
Verb
-
Because of the enormous scale of content that had to be produced nonstop, lest fans revolt against its scarcity, Destiny was only very rarely profitable during its entire lifespan.
-
Luddites revolted against the loom in the 1830s, while newspapers perpetuated the drama.
Adjective
-
Femi was defiant as he was interviewed in the ring following his victory.
-
Laurie Whitwell Were South Africa unlucky after defiant defensive display?
Noun
-
Good luck with that message in flyover country when the revolutionaries don’t enjoy the advantages of light-turnout primaries.
-
Many became meeting places for the Founding Fathers and other revolutionaries as tensions with Britain grew.
Verb
-
In 1841, John Quincy Adams, a President turned congressman and Supreme Court advocate, appeared before the Court, seeking the freedom of people kidnapped from Africa who mutinied en route to America on the slave ship Amistad.
-
Which is why the elites will mutiny even before the army does - out of fear.
Cite this Entry
“Rebel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebel. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
