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
And Marcy’s much more rebellious in her approach.
—
Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
Junta forces have bombed civilians in a bid to suppress rebellious provinces, killing thousands.
—Dan Swift, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
The Western world is experiencing something of a psychedelic renaissance, with an increasing amount of interest in drugs that decades ago were considered rebellious and dangerous to some groups but fun to others who used it while clubbing and attending raves.
—Soph Warnes, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
There are tons of people in various rebellious networks ready to help; as organized as the government may be, so are those who will stand up to it.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebellious
Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
Junta forces have bombed civilians in a bid to suppress rebellious provinces, killing thousands.
—Dan Swift, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
The Western world is experiencing something of a psychedelic renaissance, with an increasing amount of interest in drugs that decades ago were considered rebellious and dangerous to some groups but fun to others who used it while clubbing and attending raves.
—Soph Warnes, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
There are tons of people in various rebellious networks ready to help; as organized as the government may be, so are those who will stand up to it.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebellious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebellious
Adjective
-
Mamdani’s victory in the financial capital of the world was seen as a galvanizing moment for the progressive wing of the party and a sign of an insurgent mood among its base.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
10 Aug. 2025
-
And their coalition is divided between a centrist establishment and an insurgent progressive wing with diverging priorities in addressing inequality.—
Nathan Meyers,
The Conversation,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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Aside from games like volleyball and dominoes, Gach says some children stage fake ambushes on one another while pretending to be government forces or rebel fighters.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The Security Council has been monitoring a 2016 peace accord between the government and what was then the largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, at the government's request.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Clarisse looks intimidating climbing out of a boat, as does Bushnell’s traitorous Luke, who wields a sharp-looking knife.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
24 July 2025
-
There's a delicious whodunit aspect to it, too, as the list of five potentially traitorous suspects includes the operative's own high-profile wife (Cate Blanchett).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
Though the song order is Easter egg intentional – as with everything Swift – it’s bookended by a declaration of romantic salvation and a narrative from the perspective of a weary, yet defiant showgirl.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Polis has sought to avoid public fights with the federal government over immigration, unlike his more publicly defiant counterparts in Illinois and California.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In late 2010, Facebook became revered as the gold standard of revolutionary organizing, sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa following the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi in Tunisia.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Collective farms, the bane of Soviet agriculture that had once inspired Fidel’s revolutionary visions, were no longer the norm.—
Joseph J. Gonzalez,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Originally bred in Germany to hunt badgers, these small canines are energetic, bold and stubborn.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Both options meant navigating some stubborn supporters.—
Kevin Coulson,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rebellious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebellious. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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