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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
Donor revolts—growing widespread skepticism toward higher education. Scott White, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 But the revolt imperiled Infantino, as Europe contemplated replacing him with Nasser Al-Khelaifi, a hugely influential figure in European club soccer. Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 30 July 2026
Verb
Around the world, angry locals displaced from their neighborhoods by the high cost of living are revolting against the $135 billion short-term rental industry. Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026 In 2010, four years after reaching the final for the second time in three World Cups, the players revolted against coach Raymond Domenech during the tournament. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for revolt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for revolt
Noun
  • 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
  • Stephen Colbert’s award-winning Late Show was canceled in a move that many have labeled political appeasement, and the flagship evening newscast baselessly recast the January 6 insurrection as a partisan squabble.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • If the polls are any indication, Americans in general are disgusted with Washington’s Israel policy.
    Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • In 2017, the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine went to a team of French researchers who used advanced brain-scanning technology to measure the extent to which some people are disgusted by fromage.
    Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • Make the first right on the man who permitted the heads of rebelling slaves to be put on stakes and spread across the city in order to prevent the others from getting any ideas.
    Terry Gross, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026
  • When the mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin rebelled against Putin, in 2023, the Wall Street Journal reported that then security council chief Nikolai Patrushev, age 75, orchestrated the plane crash that killed the rebel leader.
    Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Al-Assir gained support in southern Lebanon for his vocal criticism of the powerful Shiite militant Hezbollah group’s involvement in Syria’s uprising that turned into civil war.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Also sentenced to death in the same case was Assad’s maternal cousin Atef Najib, who was convicted of overseeing a crackdown in the southern province of Daraa that led to the uprising and later the civil war.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Most Americans are repulsed by the core ideas of radical leftists.
    Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Philly may be shedding its second-fiddle status, but it remains entirely repulsed by frauds and underachievers.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • At the start of the summer, Infantino seemed untouchable but there is a mood of mutiny in the air.
    Simon Hughes, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Key Background This is the second voluntary recall Taylor Farms has conducted in recent weeks, after lettuce from the produce company was linked to the cyclospora outbreak that has sickened tens of thousands of people across the country.
    Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • However, Ormund is sickened by the blood spurting in his eyes, and Roddy turns the tables, using his remaining hand to stick a knife well into Ormund's backside.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The second book, Shift, consists of alternating flashback sequences, telling both the origin story of the silos and tales from past rebellions.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
  • After a prolonged siege and fighting, the British recaptured Delhi and brutally suppressed the rebellion.
    Aishwarya Lakshmi, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Revolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revolt. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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