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

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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
After years of requesting simpler access to the life-saving therapy – and partially getting it during the pandemic, without negative consequences – many in that world were in full revolt. Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 26 Aug. 2026 The precise timing of such a revolt is impossible to predict. Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
The wars began when the Yorkists revolted against the unstable Lancastrian king, Henry VI, forcing him to disinherit his son and accept a York as his successor. Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026 When the paper imposed a fee, readers revolted; the editors relented in some editions. Sam Roberts, Longreads, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for revolt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for revolt
Noun
  • Amendment is also a constitution’s mechanism for the prevention of insurrection.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • As Port falls in with a group of conspirators preparing for the insurrection, the book takes on a hallucinatory, digressive quality, blurring the lines between life and death, reality and illusion.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Decent law-abiding Israelis living in Judea/Samaria are also disgusted by behavior of the few who violate civil law & Torah by violence & lawlessness.
    Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Allie, in particular, is disgusted by the men who treat her as functionally interchangeable with any other available, able-bodied woman.
    Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Starring Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, the movie portrays three working women who rebel against their sexist boss.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Jones made rejection her trademark, rebelling against conformity and embracing an image and music that pushed boundaries and refused labels.
    Lisa Whittington-Hill, Longreads, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Suddenly, the humble farmer has incited a countrywide uprising.
    Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Following the Second World War, the United Kingdom had introduced a new National Service Act; in the early fifties, this often meant fighting in Korea, or battling an uprising against colonial rule in British Malaya, where Ascherson was deployed.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • His recent comments didn’t favor the Browns fanbase, and many Cleveland fans seem viscerally repulsed by him.
    Andy Behrens, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Most Americans are repulsed by the core ideas of radical leftists.
    Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Continue reading … PARTY FOUL — Jeffries threatens consequences after Dem mutiny helps move anti-socialism bill.
    , FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Critics wanted to throw a mutiny at the theater while watching the movie with a 48% Rotten Tomatoes grade.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In July, Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced in Mexico from 27 states following a cyclospora outbreak that has sickened 18,445 people since the beginning of May.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus, leading to algae blooms that can kill fish and sicken people.
    Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The Uprising’s final act does get unwieldy, as the director tries to show just how the rebellion was betrayed.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Exactly what Hidalgo said has been lost to history, but his message was strong enough to ignite a rebellion.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Revolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revolt. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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