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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as in rebellion
refusal to obey
her habitual rebelliousness eventually landed her in the principal's office
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rebellious
Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 6 June 2025
In addition to provoking rebellious and impulsive actions, this unpredictable synergy can abruptly derail plans.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 4 June 2025
In the next scene the bright and rebellious Louisa is back in the U.S. after spending fourth grade in Japan and losing her father.
—Jane Ciabattari
june 3, Literary Hub, 3 June 2025
To a wide-eyed visitor like myself, there was something that felt both rebellious and inevitable about Blodget’s operation.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebellious
Adjective
From the start, Handy argues, the on-screen adventures in teen movies have been targeted to a double audience of rebellious teens and anxious adults.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 6 June 2025
In addition to provoking rebellious and impulsive actions, this unpredictable synergy can abruptly derail plans.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 4 June 2025
In the next scene the bright and rebellious Louisa is back in the U.S. after spending fourth grade in Japan and losing her father.
—Jane Ciabattari
june 3, Literary Hub, 3 June 2025
To a wide-eyed visitor like myself, there was something that felt both rebellious and inevitable about Blodget’s operation.
—Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 31 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
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Serena became an integral part of the rebel movement to destroy Gilead.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
22 June 2025
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But on Friday, the beer maker said the situation had deteriorated further, and that armed personnel had taken control of its facilities in Bukavu and Goma - eastern Congo’s two biggest cities, now under rebel control - and nearby areas.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
The third season opens in the wake of the deadly rebellion depicted in the Season 2 finale, which left Jung-Bae and many of Gi-hun’s allies dead.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
Still, youthful rebellion in virtual reality looks great and the concept of online escapes resonates in an increasingly intense real world.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
20 June 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
-
Pride celebrations are typically a daylong mix of jubilant street parties and political protest, but this year’s iterations took a more defiant stance as Republicans, led by President Trump, have sought to roll back LGBTQ+ rights.—
Philip Marcelo,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
-
Mamdani’s outspoken support for Palestinian causes was a point of tension in the mayor’s race as Cuomo and other opponents sought to label his defiant criticism of Israel as antisemitic.—
Philip Marcelo,
Fortune,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
Small acts of defiance are happening in real life, too.—
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
Four years later, an America-first cultural crackdown has freed the Met to cast off the hair shirt of reckoning and celebrate its diverse holdings in a spirit of defiance.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Even at 18,000 years old, the mammoth boomerang was already among the oldest examples of spinning-flying-flat-stick technology (some might even have called it revolutionary) in the world.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 June 2025
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The balloon framing that was used was considered revolutionary in construction at the time, but fell out of favor after the Great Chicago Fire.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
One of the people that is most stubborn in their support of these spendy projects is Senator Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana.—
Roger Valdez,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
For indoor brick, keep it simple by trying a slightly damp brush to sweep away stubborn dirt.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rebellious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebellious. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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