1
as in rotation
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point revved the engine to 3000 revolutions per minute

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in revolt
open fighting against authority (as one's own government) the revolution by which the American colonies gained their independence from Great Britain necessitated going up against the world's most powerful army

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun revolution differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of revolution are insurrection, mutiny, rebellion, revolt, and uprising. While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

When is mutiny a more appropriate choice than revolution?

Although the words mutiny and revolution have much in common, mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

When would rebellion be a good substitute for revolution?

The meanings of rebellion and revolution largely overlap; however, rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

How are the words revolt and insurrection related as synonyms of revolution?

Both 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 could uprising be used to replace revolution?

The words uprising and revolution are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 revolution In 1979, a revolution established an Islamic Republic, grounded in strict Muslim religious ideology, led by a religious ayatollah. Sharyl Attkisson, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2025 The next step for McMahon’s wrestling revolution and Hogan’s burgeoning fame was a supershow at New York’s Madison Square Garden that would be called WrestleMania. Marc Raimondi june 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025 Green said that as the conversation around AI’s revolution continues and brands seek out ways to leverage that technology, the possibility of helping the shopping experience is not unique. Alexandra Pastore, Footwear News, 25 June 2025 But he was also raised in the backdrop of the revolution that never really came. Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for revolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for revolution
Noun
  • Lyles could be a target for contending teams looking to fill out their rotation with an offensive-minded big.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 20 June 2025
  • Scientists are unsure what to do because the current speeding-up may be a blip in a longer trend of Earth’s rotation slowing.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • The revolt by a large number of Labour MPs against benefit cuts imposed by Keir Starmer is an example.
    Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Rumors of connections between Saint Domingue and slave resistance abounded in Virginia after 1793 and shaped how whites understood Gabriel’s revolt in Richmond in 1800.
    Time, Time, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • The rigidity or inflexibility of the curve directly influences the complexity of the surgery, with more rigid curves often requiring more extensive osteotomy bone cuts to achieve proper alignment.
    Richard Menger MD MPA, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Where the opportunities lie The front and the belly of the curve remain the most attractive, said Rieder, who is also the portfolio manager of iShares Flexible Income Active ETF (BINC) .
    Michelle Fox, CNBC, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Also, because Israel is constantly targeting Tehran, which has been the center of previous uprisings, there is no potential for people to mobilize and come out on the streets, Azizi added.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
  • Newark’s mayor cited reports of a possible uprising and escape after disorder broke out at the facility Thursday night and protesters outside the center locked arms and pushed against barricades as vehicles passed through gates.
    Mike Catalini, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • The cold foam put a decadent spin on the subtly tangy sip.
    Erin Clements, People.com, 30 June 2025
  • From a young age, Sinner and Alcaraz learned to hit ground strokes that dipped and drove, as Nadal’s did, with clear margins and heavy with spin.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • All of these acts of insurrection reveal a nation unbowed in the face of violent oppression.
    Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
  • Mass deportations, the politicization of our military and the use of the military as props to create the suggestion of insurrection are classic authoritarian techniques to take over governments.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • The third season opens in the wake of the deadly rebellion depicted in the Season 2 finale, which left Jung-Bae and many of Gi-hun’s allies dead.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Still, youthful rebellion in virtual reality looks great and the concept of online escapes resonates in an increasingly intense real world.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • Along the way, the exhausting voyage involved various mutinies and crew deaths, and upon reaching the islands of the Malayan Archipelago, Magellan’s mind and ambitions changed.
    Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 18 May 2025
  • But the mutiny underscored for Putin that the country’s current business leaders and high-level bureaucrats cannot be relied on at moments of regime crisis.
    ANDREI YAKOVLEV, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Revolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revolution. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on revolution

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!