uprising 1 of 2

Definition of uprisingnext
as in revolt
open fighting against authority (as one's own government) the uprising was quickly and brutally suppressed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

uprising

2 of 2

verb

present participle of uprise

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun uprising differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of uprising are insurrection, mutiny, rebellion, revolt, and revolution. While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

When would mutiny be a good substitute for uprising?

The words mutiny and uprising are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 uprising?

The meanings of rebellion and uprising 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 uprising?

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

Where would revolution be a reasonable alternative to uprising?

In some situations, the words revolution and uprising are roughly equivalent. However, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

How does the noun uprising differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of uprising are insurrection, mutiny, rebellion, revolt, and revolution. While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

When would mutiny be a good substitute for uprising?

The words mutiny and uprising are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 uprising?

The meanings of rebellion and uprising 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 uprising?

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

Where would revolution be a reasonable alternative to uprising?

In some situations, the words revolution and uprising are roughly equivalent. However, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

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 uprising
Noun
But there has been no sign of an uprising in Iran as residents shelter from bombardment. Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 7 Apr. 2026 During the early January uprising, Ahani lost two friends, one of whom was a father of two. Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
But was that uprising really such a good idea? The New Yorker, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for uprising
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uprising
Noun
  • The Testaments The Testaments picks up 15 years after The Handmaid’s Tale’s June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) led Boston in a successful revolt against Gilead.
    Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The difference, according to him, is that, unlike Lenin’s Communist revolution, the right-wing revolt will empower people who are good.
    Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But there are concerns about rising ticket prices and soaring production budgets, fueled by higher costs for labor, materials and energy.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
  • The group announced the new mutual aid market on social media, citing community concerns over rising costs as the motivation behind the move.
    Christa Swanson, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Overall, while 11 of the 25 most common grocery staples fell in price in the last two years, the food items that are climbing have offset those savings, the analysis showed.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Lionsgate’s Laurel Pecchia is climbing at the Hollywood studio with a promotion to senior vp, corporate communications.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In 2021, she was profiled by multiple magazines for painting the January 6 insurrection.
    Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Facing insurrection charges, Kimbangu was sentenced to death.
    Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Kawamura has also given us a genuinely genius take on the waking existential crisis that is 21st century living.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Every 90 minutes, our bodies go paralyzed while our brains become more active than during waking life.
    Big Think, Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But if those now ascending within the Islamic Republic recognize that national resilience requires political legitimacy, this pause in the fighting could mark the beginning of a different path.
    Pegah Banihashemi, Time, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Researchers documented the fish ascending waterfalls up to approximately 15 meters high, often in groups numbering in the thousands.
    Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The memoirs are valued above all for their candor, though Jahangir chose to avoid writing about his earlier rebellion against his father, Akbar.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Many of the stories in the book are tragic Icarus narratives, featuring acts of rebellion that succeed in one brief ecstatic burst, and then resoundingly fail.
    Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Health policy researchers and consumer advocates say rolling out the new Medicaid rules will be a bigger challenge.
    Sam Whitehead, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Microsoft is rolling out a Windows 11 update to fix a Start Menu glitch that's been producing blank search results and other issues.
    James Peckham, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Uprising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uprising. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.

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