revolt 1 of 2

Definition of revoltnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

revolt

2 of 2

verb

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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of revolt
Noun
Any deal almost certainly needs to involve a compromise as lawmakers on the left and right flanks revolt. ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026 Any deal will almost certainly need to involve a compromise as lawmakers on the left and right flanks revolt. Lisa Mascaro, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
An end to the partial government shutdown looked to be on the horizon early Friday, March 27, until Republican leaders in the House of Representatives revolted that afternoon, coming out against a deal to end the six-week-long funding crisis at the Department of Homeland Security. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026 There was not yet a capitalism to revolt against. Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for revolt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for revolt
Noun
  • There were rebellions, insurrections and an Appian Way lined with crucifixions.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Meanwhile, a separate insurrection led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, a Marxist political party, tore through the southern part of the country in the late 1980s, killing tens of thousands of people.
    Eranda Jayawickreme, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Being taught society’s standard eating rituals, so as not to disgust others by violating them, was certainly a useful part of ordinary child-rearing.
    Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
  • On social media, Italian fans were disgusted by the performance, erupting into a meltdown rarely seen.
    Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Dulla Bhatti belonged to a family of local chiefs who rebelled against the Mughal authority by opposing land revenues and taxes.
    Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The House voted to pass a short-term funding patch for the Department of Homeland Security late Friday night, rebelling against a plan from Senate Republicans that omitted funding for immigration enforcement agencies.
    Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Koeninger led off the bottom of the first inning for Keller (23-1-2 overall, 9-0 district) by lining a ball over the left field wall to start a 4-run uprising.
    Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Contrary to expectations in Washington and Jerusalem, the war has not sparked a popular uprising.
    Kazem Kazerounian, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In the mid-19th century, Kasanje was able to repulse a Portuguese military expedition.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Sigmund Freud believed that every crush has a strand of disgust, that people are attracted to what repulses them.
    Daniel Felsenthal, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The ur-mutiny, encompassing some of these, provoking and provoked by others, is MAGA.
    George Packer, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
  • That mobility occasionally allowed for communication and coordination during mutinies.
    Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • People all over the globe were in disbelief that a man could perpetuate a campaign of drugging and raping his wife without her knowledge, and even more sickened that dozens of men joined him in his crimes.
    Glamour, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Police in Broomfield, Colorado, opened an investigation after multiple hot dogs laced with methamphetamine were found in a family’s yard and sickened at least two dogs, according to a press release.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The stumbles provided ammunition to a bipartisan congressional rebellion that eventually led to overwhelming passage of a bill requiring release of all the files, although the DOJ has been slow to comply.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Seeing privileged young women wisen up to their standardized subjugation is bound to be less dramatic than witnessing a righteous workers’ rebellion.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Revolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revolt. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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