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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rebellious
After her 1998 breakout in The Parent Trap, Lohan took on yet another feature film role playing rebellious teen Anna Coleman in Freaky Friday.
—
Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Title: Golden Writers: Ida Yazdi Logline: A rebellious, young Iranian immigrant shakes off family traditions and becomes a sugar baby to the wealthy women of Tehrangeles.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2025
But whereas Charlie favored a more traditional brand of salsa, Eddie showcased his lifelong rebellious tendencies as a teenager.
—Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025
Its mix of rebellious humor and suburban melancholy?
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebellious
Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Title: Golden Writers: Ida Yazdi Logline: A rebellious, young Iranian immigrant shakes off family traditions and becomes a sugar baby to the wealthy women of Tehrangeles.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2025
But whereas Charlie favored a more traditional brand of salsa, Eddie showcased his lifelong rebellious tendencies as a teenager.
—Ernesto Lechner, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025
Its mix of rebellious humor and suburban melancholy?
—Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebellious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebellious
Adjective
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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
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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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After all, in Andor, a rebel alliance pushes back against an emperor.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Aug. 2025
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Martial law and a state of emergency would be imposed in more than 60 townships across nine regions and states due to the threat of violence and insurgency, the report said, many in border areas where the military is facing unprecedented resistance from rebel groups.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
1 Aug. 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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But New Delhi has been defiant, saying that Russian oil is necessary for the energy security of its 1.4 billion-strong population.—
Anna Cooban,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
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The character’s defiant self-possession would unnerve even a more contemporary patriarchy, and challenge family dynamics in any era.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Anchoring the revitalization of Panama City’s historic center and creating arguably the first luxury property of its kind in the city, Hotel La Compañía has felt nothing less than revolutionary from the start.—
Carley Rojas Ávila,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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These settlements were built on land owned and governed by Black people, a revolutionary act in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The Myth That Won’t Die: 'Nobody Scrolls' For years, there’s been this stubborn idea in web design that everything important has to be above the fold.—
Talie Smith,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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Detailing exactly how scientists made this new discovery, the study chronicles the case of a 34-year-old woman who arrived at the NIH Clinical Center with a stubborn skin tumor on her forehead.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rebellious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebellious. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.
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