1
as in insurgent
taking part in a rebellion
the rebellious troops fought a pitched battle with divisions still loyal to the government
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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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Recent Examples of rebellious
According to the researchers, teenage men tend to favor intense, rebellious genres that fuel identity and independence in a phase that peaks early.
—
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
But the couple have yet to conceive an heir, so when Jerome absconds and his dashing friend Manfred (Galitzine) arrives with dastardly intentions, Hero (Corrin), Cherry’s wily and loyal maid, is forced to concoct a plan to distract Manfred by telling captivating stories about rebellious women.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2025
With her King Kylie persona, Jenner showed off more rebellious, edgy and experimental looks, including blue hair.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
In the Disney+ series of the same name, rebellious princess Kit (Bottoms’ Ruby Cruz) sets off on a dangerous quest to rescue her twin brother from dastardly forces of evil.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebellious
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
But the couple have yet to conceive an heir, so when Jerome absconds and his dashing friend Manfred (Galitzine) arrives with dastardly intentions, Hero (Corrin), Cherry’s wily and loyal maid, is forced to concoct a plan to distract Manfred by telling captivating stories about rebellious women.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2025
With her King Kylie persona, Jenner showed off more rebellious, edgy and experimental looks, including blue hair.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
In the Disney+ series of the same name, rebellious princess Kit (Bottoms’ Ruby Cruz) sets off on a dangerous quest to rescue her twin brother from dastardly forces of evil.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebellious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebellious
Adjective
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Although some analysts have suggested Starmer may quietly be pleased with the resignation of his main rival and potential successor, the toppling of Rayner caps off what has been a dreadful summer for Labour, in which the party has lost more ground in the polls to the insurgent Reform UK.—
Max Foster,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
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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
Adjective
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An elderly man sits on the floor, dozens of bodies lying around him, before a Sudanese rebel fighter approaches and shoots him.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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The 64-year-old actor famously portrays rebel leader Morpheus, captain of the Nebuchadnezzar, in the hit sci-fi action film franchise.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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Cushla’s world is full of defiant spirits, including her mother, a woman struggling with addiction who spends most of her days bound to her living room and the bottom of a bottle.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
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The mayor-elect was defiant in his victory speech.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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For frequent flyers, saving an hour (and skipping the chaos of baggage claim) feels nothing short of revolutionary.—
Maddie Hiatt,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Oct. 2025
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One Battle After Another follows Bob, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, an ex-revolutionary on a journey to rescue his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti) from an old enemy.—
Ryan Fleming,
Deadline,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That individual brilliance which can produce a moment of magic to break open a stubborn defence is harder to come by.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Be sure to pay extra attention to stubborn stains.—
Jennifer Beck Goldblatt,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rebellious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebellious. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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