REVOLUTION Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

revolution

noun

ˌre-və-ˈlü-shən

Definition of revolution

as in rotation

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

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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

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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 These job changes seem frightening because past tech revolutions have shut people out. — Pat Gelsinger, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026 The likelihood of a socialist revolution by a Democrat put the major Hollywood studios into full panic mode (remember, this was 1934). — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026 In other ways, SETT, which is part of Spain’s Ministry for Digital Transformation, also harbors a revolution. — John Hopewell, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026 In China, where there are no such avenues for people to determine their own fate, leaders must still confront the problems and threats inherent to this technological revolution. — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for revolution

Recent Examples of Synonyms for revolution

Noun

And Marcelin, who had worked his way into the linebacker rotation early in his sophomore year, was tied for third on the team with nine tackles through three games.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
Summer frocks remain on rotation, made appropriate for the season by thin sweaters and leather boots, while sandals pair with mini skirts and mocknecks.

— Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of rotation

Noun

Of these three films, The Uprising is admittedly the least heist-explicit; Paul Greengrass’s shaky cam mostly follows marching mobs lambasting the king and furious revolts against soldiers and tax collectors.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
Advertisement By midsummer, the revolt reached its breaking point.

— JP Mangalindan, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of revolt

Noun

Set the scene Beyond the majestic main building, which sits on one of the endless curves of the Amalfi road, there are two new villas in addition to an older one, the beautiful Romeo e Giulietta.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
Wells has the clearest near-term opportunity to benefit from higher rates, but the yield curve isn’t a major part of our thesis.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of curve

Noun

There were, of course, more people protesting than in 1848, the first modern wave of uprisings, known as the Springtime of the Peoples.

— Rachel Nolan, The New York Review of Books, 19 Sep. 2026
The uprising also brought people working in different movements closer together.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of uprising

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

Definition of insurrection

Noun

It’s also brilliantly written as a futile, pathetic rebellion by men with zero agency or purpose in their own lives.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026
In Fernández’s version, Antíkona’s insubordination inspires a peoples’ rebellion and brings an end to Klion’s rule due to his inability to treat citizens with common decency.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of rebellion

Noun

Its leader, Sergei Mironov, 73, once gained headlines by posing with a symbol of brutality — a sledgehammer given to him by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the late Wagner mercenary leader shortly before his failed 2023 mutiny.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Step aboard the Grampus, a whaleship gone adrift after a storm, rations running out and a violent mutiny, and learn what happened to its ghost whalers.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of mutiny

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“Revolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revolution. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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