Synonyms of rebellious

rebellious

adjective

ri-ˈbel-yəs 

1

as in insurgent

taking part in a rebellion

the rebellious troops fought a pitched battle with divisions still loyal to the government

Synonyms & Similar Words

• insurgent
• traitorous
• revolutionary
• mutinous
• insurrectionary
• treacherous
• seditious
• treasonous
• defiant
• disobedient
• insubordinate
• demagogic
• agitating
• recalcitrant
• unruly
• restive
• rabble-rousing
• refractory
• intractable
• ungovernable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loyal
• constant
• true
• steadfast
• staunch
• devoted
• obedient
• submissive
• true-blue
• compliant
• tractable
• stanch

2

as in rebel

given to resisting authority or another's control

expected her son to grow a little more rebellious as he got older, but she knew he understood when to kick and when to obey

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rebel
• defiant
• stubborn
• willful
• disobedient
• unruly
• wayward
• wilful
• mischievous
• contrary
• insubordinate
• naughty
• recalcitrant
• contumacious
• restive
• rigid
• obstreperous
• adamant
• dogged
• dissident
• refractory
• ungovernable
• intractable
• wild
• balky
• froward
• insurgent
• unrelenting
• uncontrollable
• resistant
• untoward
• recusant
• mutinous
• rude
• bad
• incompliant
• uncooperative
• obstinate
• headstrong
• opinionated
• uncompromising
• peevish
• negativistic
• noncooperative
• implacable
• hardheaded
• unbending
• obdurate
• mulish
• fractious
• unmanageable
• unyielding
• undisciplined
• nonconformist
• inflexible
• pertinacious
• self-willed
• impudent
• monkeying
• insolent
• disorderly
• immovable
• disrespectful
• perverse
• wrongheaded
• pigheaded
• errant
• ornery
• adamantine
• uncouth
• inconsiderate
• ungracious
• discourteous
• impertinent
• uncivil
• misbehaving
• unmannerly
• impolite
• ill-mannered
• monkeyish
• ill-natured
• ill-bred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obedient
• docile
• submissive
• cooperative
• amiable
• compliant
• amenable
• tractable
• conformable
• agreeable
• acquiescent
• deferential
• behaved
• disciplined
• respectful
• biddable
• well-bred
• yielding
• polite
• courteous
• obliging
• servile
• ruly
• subservient
• slavish
• obsequious
• orderly
• proper
• decorous
• controllable
• manageable
• mannerly
• trainable
• kowtowing
• governable

Examples of rebellious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1874, a group of rebellious painters—including Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne and Edgar Degas—exhibited their work in Paris. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Sep. 2024

Top trends: Sheer, lace, and transparency prevailed as a must-have trend with an emphasis on feminine frills and a rebellious bohemian attitude. —Rhonda Richford, WWD, 2 Oct. 2024

Schoolboys in Disgrace is essentially an origin story about Mr. Flash, the villain of the Preservation albums, as a rebellious kid in a strict and unforgiving school. —Al Shipley, SPIN, 29 Sep. 2024

But the rebellious Tally (Joey King) learns being good-looking isn't all that when seeking out a friend who has vanished. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024