Synonyms of revolt

revolt 1 of 2

noun

as in insurrection

open fighting against authority (as one's own government)

soon the revolt had spread to every corner of the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

• insurrection
• uprising
• mutiny
• rebellion
• revolution
• insurgency
• outbreak
• insurgence
• coup
• overthrow
• rising
• treachery
• sedition
• coup d'état
• treason
• sabotage
• subversion
• misprision

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• counterinsurgency
• counterrevolution

revolt

2 of 2

verb

ri-ˈvōlt 

1

as in to disgust

to cause to feel disgust

the jury appeared to be revolted by the grisly details of the murder

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disgust
• repulse
• sicken
• appall
• horrify
• nauseate
• repel
• outrage
• distress
• shock
• put off
• gross out
• displease
• insult
• disquiet
• turn off
• offend
• turn one's stomach
• affront

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pull
• attract
• charm
• draw
• seduce
• tempt
• disarm
• entice
• lure
• rejoice
• delight
• captivate
• fascinate
• please
• gratify
• allure
• beguile
• entrance
• enchant
• tickle
• appeal (to)
• bewitch
• interest
• intrigue
• enthrall
• enrapture

2

as in to rebel

to rise up against established authority

the students practically revolted when the school cancelled the championship football game

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rebel
• mutiny
• kick over the traces
• resist
• disobey
• fight
• revolutionize
• mock
• oppose
• withstand
• contest
• defy
• combat
• buck

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• follow
• submit
• comply (with)
• serve
• obey
• mind
• attend

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun revolt differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of revolt are insurrection, mutiny, rebellion, revolution, and uprising. While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," revolt and insurrection imply an armed uprising that quickly fails or succeeds.

a revolt by the Young Turks that surprised party leaders

an insurrection of oppressed laborers

When is it sensible to use mutiny instead of revolt?

The meanings of mutiny and revolt largely overlap; however, mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

When could rebellion be used to replace revolt?

While in some cases nearly identical to revolt, rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

When can revolution be used instead of revolt?

Although the words revolution and revolt have much in common, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

When might uprising be a better fit than revolt?

The synonyms uprising and revolt are sometimes interchangeable, but uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of revolt

Noun

The Declaration of Independence, often perceived as a tax revolt, explicitly mentions taxes only once among its 27 grievances, dedicating just eight words to the issue. — Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

The rebellion was the first major popular revolt in England’s North American colonies and reflected tensions over frontier settlement, relations with Native Americans, political authority, and access to land. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 June 2026

Verb

The country’s first civil war began on the eve of independence and lasted from 1955 until 1972, when the southerners, who were largely Christian or animists, revolted against the repressive and exploitative control of the government in Khartoum. — Janine Di Giovanni, Vanity Fair, 25 June 2026

Some fans revolted against head coach Fabian Hurzeler last winter before a turnaround in form. — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 23 June 2026