rebellion

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

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 rebellion Peasants massed in armed bands in one region, then another, and rebellion would break out even in areas far away. Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025 From Feel Good creator and comedian Mae Martin comes Wayward, a twisty limited series that explores teenage rebellion and what happens when institutions claiming to help kids might actually be doing the opposite. Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025 The leader of that rebellion, Pushpa Kamal Dahal—reverentially addressed by his comrades as Prachanda, or the Fiery One—was for years a mysterious figure, fabled for his victories against government forces, but essentially unknown. Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025 Her image is now shorthand for beauty, decadence, rebellion, and misogyny. Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rebellion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebellion
Noun
  • France is in a constant state of revolt.
    Renaud Foucart, Time, 28 Sep. 2025
  • One video for the song Turista, for instance, focused on Lares, the site of the 1868 Grito de Lares revolt against Spanish rule.
    Cat Sposato, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Minnesota passed on Rodgers at the time, almost to signal a vote of defiance or confidence in McCarthy.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
  • In recent months, some council members have pushed, in open defiance, for outside groups to take another look, on the city’s behalf, at the economics of moving out of the Civic Center complex.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And then after the insurrection, Republicans in Congress came back and still voted not to certify the election.
    Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Also in April, a West Virginia man, who had attacked federal law enforcement during the insurrection, was indicted on charges of armed robbery and assault after stabbing the owner of a Mexican restaurant.
    Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The performance goes from fiery to ineffectual as DiCaprio’s character, Bob, loses his youthful rebelliousness in a haze of pot and resignation.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
  • The rebelliousness can be witnessed in everything from its ’70s-in-California style to the very naming conventions Mother chooses for its viral products — adored by A-listers like Gigi Hadid, Chrissy Teigen, Millie Bobby Brown, and more.
    Kristina Rutkowski, Footwear News, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This summer alone has seen youth uprisings in Nepal, Angola, and Indonesia, to say nothing of ongoing youth mobilization worldwide for a free Palestine.
    Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Though the family dynamics anchor the story, the Fenian uprising led by sister/brother duo Ellen (Niamh McCormack) and Paddy Cochran (Seamus O’Hara) are also causing major chaos on the streets of Dublin and within the company’s walls.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • While this change reduces the explicit admission of willfulness, a narrative is still required.
    Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 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
  • Moja Rowa Colorful disobedience is how Moja Rowa cofounders Yelena Mojarova and Edward Benedikt Sittler characterize their creative spirit and brand ethos.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2025
  • The ladies move closer to God through acts of disobedience, debauchery, and disgrace; by visiting seedy places and commingling with the disreputable.
    Nicole Flattery, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rebellion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebellion. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rebellion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!