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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rebellious
Experts, however, were quick to clarify that the malfunction was not evidence of a conscious or rebellious machine.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025
May 29, 2025 Marseille is like a siren’s song; for thousands of years, sailors and vagabonds have been drawn in and hooked by its rebellious undercurrent.
—Lily Radziemski, New York Times, 29 May 2025
There was that dangerous and engrossing luxury hotel chain, a rebellious underground faction, the ultimate high-stress hospital and, just this weekend, the harrowing second chapter in a post-apocalyptic fungal zombie tale came to a grisly conclusion.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 27 May 2025
These two regions are no longer promising New World upstarts or rebellious outposts of Bordeaux.
—Jessica Dupuy, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebellious
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025
May 29, 2025 Marseille is like a siren’s song; for thousands of years, sailors and vagabonds have been drawn in and hooked by its rebellious undercurrent.
—Lily Radziemski, New York Times, 29 May 2025
There was that dangerous and engrossing luxury hotel chain, a rebellious underground faction, the ultimate high-stress hospital and, just this weekend, the harrowing second chapter in a post-apocalyptic fungal zombie tale came to a grisly conclusion.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 27 May 2025
These two regions are no longer promising New World upstarts or rebellious outposts of Bordeaux.
—Jessica Dupuy, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebellious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebellious
Adjective
-
In the fight over the future of the Democratic Party, Mr. Pritzker has emerged as a leader of an insurgent faction calling for a full-throated, unflinching barrage of attacks on Mr. Trump, his Republican allies and their right-wing agenda.—
Lisa Lerer,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
The photograph depicts a foot soldier in an insurgent religious movement trying to storm the halls of American power.—
John Blake,
CNN,
12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Here romantic passion combines with revolution in a historical fiction sure to light up readers’ rebel hearts.—
Lorraine Berry,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
-
Then, the detainees were executed, dressed in rebel uniforms, and reported as combat kills with many buried in anonymous graves in cemeteries.—
John Otis,
NPR,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
Michael Fassbender plays a British intelligence officer tasked with finding who leaked a top-secret software program and betrayed their country, and the list of five potentially traitorous suspects includes his own high-profile wife (Cate Blanchett).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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Smith made out their former collaborators to be ungrateful and traitorous, and the kids weren't given the space to question her command.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Kim Kardashian made a defiant walk into Paris' Palace of Justice in May, to face the criminals who held the reality star at gunpoint and robbed in 2016.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
6 June 2025
-
In an era defined by digital speed, algorithmic curation, and disposable listening, Gearbox Records has carved out a defiant space for intentionality, sonic depth, and analog fidelity.—
Steve Baltin,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
How to Eat: The Pleasures and Principles of Good Food The prose in Nigella Lawson’s revolutionary How to Eat is evocative enough that you will be tempted to read it like a novel.—
Hayley Maitland,
Vogue,
7 June 2025
-
The problem with most revolutionary acts is that the message is lost on normies.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
Still, the stubborn media silence continued unabated.—
Nate Rogers,
Vulture,
22 May 2025
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United needed to play perfect football to unlock a stubborn defence, but struggled to push past competency.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rebellious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebellious. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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