revolt 1 of 2

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

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
Former Roanoke women's swim captain Lily Mullens, who led an athlete revolt against the program in 2023 that culminated in a press conference and lawsuit, told Fox News Digital her reaction to Spanberger's answer. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025 The Onondagas support plans announced by the mayor of Syracuse in 2020 to remove the statue of Columbus, an Italian explorer who helped the Spanish establish a colonial foothold in the Caribbean and later suppressed revolts by Indigenous people. Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
Several professional medical societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, have revolted against the government, and last month published immunization guidelines that diverge from the current CDC’s. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025 There are blood stains in the bathroom, a revolting mess in the toilet. Judy Berman, Time, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for revolt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for revolt
Noun
  • This is not Lozano’s first brush with insurrection.
    Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
  • But there is nothing like an insurrection in the city of San Francisco.
    The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • People are disgusted with Israel’s response.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Christine assures him that she could never be disgusted with him.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Loosely inspired by real-life events, the film chronicled the tale of an undercover detective infiltraitng a coal mining community to expose a group of Irish-American miners rebelling against the mine owners.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
  • When she was pulled into the Upside Down and seemingly forgotten, the fanbase rebelled and #JusticeforBarb was born.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The East African country has been mired in civil strife ever since the central government collapsed in 1991 following a series of uprisings against the then-military dictatorship.
    Omar S Mahmood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Following the national uprising over the murder of George Floyd, corporations sought out more women and people of color to diversify their boards of directors.
    Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • His family, dependent on his income and repulsed at what has become of their son, must then determine what is to be done with poor Gregor.
    Big Think, Big Think, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Ron spends a lot of time bouncing around the web, fascinated and repulsed in equal measure.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Beginning as a sailors’ mutiny in the port city of Kiel, the revolution spread by train.
    Time, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
  • This includes leader assassination attempts by political opponents or lone wolves or mutinies by disgruntled soldiers who might even march on the presidential palace to demand higher pay, promotions or other policy concessions.
    John Joseph Chin, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Listeria sickens about 1,250 Americans every year and causes approximately 172 deaths.
    News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The illness spreads through the tribe, sickening one of its leaders and creating division and disorder.
    Maggie Doherty, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Readers meet Anne, who walks out of Eden not out of rebellion but love.
    Maria Williams, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Netanyahu, meanwhile, faces rebellion from right-wing ministers who want to block a path to Palestinian statehood and annex the West Bank.
    Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Revolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revolt. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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