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
And, at least for now, despite the threat of revolt, internal pressure within FIFA appears to have abated. Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 Donor revolts—growing widespread skepticism toward higher education. Scott White, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
However, when these deals are struck in the dark, communities revolt. Melody Birmingham, Fortune, 23 July 2026 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 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
  • 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
  • If the polls are any indication, Americans in general are disgusted with Washington’s Israel policy.
    Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • People are rebelling against the constant connection and dopamine distraction that smartphones can bring.
    Anthony Karcz, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • With fatter paychecks, customers are rebelling against the chains that serve up shrinkflation and replace workers with broken self-checkout machines and touchscreen kiosks.
    Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • That summer, Detroit was paralyzed by a violent uprising, which erupted after the city’s predominantly white police force raided a night club in a Black neighborhood.
    Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • And much of that goes back to a 1989 uprising and crackdown known as El Caracazo.
    Tibisay Zea, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 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
  • 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
  • Since May, cyclospora infections linked to Taylor Farms lettuce have sickened thousands nationwide.
    Finch Walker, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
  • They will be sickened and embarrassed to have a parent be so callous and vindictive.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • During the Sengoku period, clan leader Isshin Ashina leads a successful rebellion against the rulers to secure Ashina’s independence.
    Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • According to a recent paper by the French Institute of International Relations, the SAF and its supporters claim to be putting down an armed rebellion as Sudan’s legitimate government.
    Mat Nashed, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Revolt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revolt. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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