Synonyms of rebellion

rebellion

noun

ri-ˈbel-yən 

1

as in revolt

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

the rebellion would have failed if not for the aid sent by other countries

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• counterinsurgency
• counterrevolution

2

as in defiance

refusal to obey

the period of rebellion that teenagers typically go through

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defiance
• rebelliousness
• disobedience
• willfulness
• disrespect
• insubordination
• waywardness
• unruliness
• contrariness
• contumacy
• recalcitrance
• rudeness
• intractability
• refractoriness
• frowardness
• balkiness
• civil disobedience
• obstreperousness
• stubbornness
• noncooperation
• insolence
• perversity
• obstinacy
• self-will
• impudence
• inconsiderateness
• tenacity
• peevishness
• impoliteness
• inconsideration
• obduracy
• pigheadedness
• pertinacity
• doggedness
• naughtiness
• impertinence
• mischievousness
• ungraciousness
• tenaciousness
• hardheadedness
• discourteousness
• knavery
• obdurateness
• mulishness
• obstinateness
• pertinaciousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obedience
• subordination
• submission
• compliance
• tractability
• subservience
• amiability
• submissiveness
• amenability
• subserviency
• agreeability
• slavishness
• tractableness
• subordinateness
• deference
• docility
• trainability
• dutifulness

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun rebellion differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rebellion are insurrection, mutiny, revolt, revolution, and uprising. While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

Where would mutiny be a reasonable alternative to rebellion?

The words mutiny and rebellion can be used in similar contexts, but mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

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

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 might revolution be a better fit than rebellion?

The words revolution and rebellion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

In what contexts can uprising take the place of rebellion?

While in some cases nearly identical to rebellion, uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of rebellion

The creators are describing the title as Inglourious Bastards, Quentin Tarantino’s down in the dirt revisionist World War Two movie, meets V for Vendetta, Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s anti-fascist British tale of rebellion. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

To pair the piece with Celine’s more tailored pieces like the trousers and blouse added a tonal contrast that still executed on its luxury aesthetic, though with a touch of rebellion. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026

These layered styles exuded rebellion and were made famous around the globe by figures like Joan Jett. — María Diez, Glamour, 26 Sep. 2026

In Fernández’s version, Antíkona’s insubordination inspires a peoples’ rebellion and brings an end to Klion’s rule due to his inability to treat citizens with common decency. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026