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

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 Qaddafi’s military forces were decisively defeated by Western airpower and his objective of crushing a popular uprising by force was rendered impossible. — Justin Bronk, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026 Since the first Palestinian intifada, or uprising, began in 1987, human rights organizations have documented how seldom investigations into Israeli soldiers’ killings of Palestinians resulted in prosecution. — Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
Hasina blames uprising on 'coordinated assault' Instead, Hasina on Wednesday blamed the violence on the protesters. — Shamim Chowdhury, NPR, 5 Aug. 2026 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 legendary protests of May, 1968, began as a student revolt against the bureaucracy of the French university system, and brought France to the verge of revolution yet again.
    — Maurice Samuels, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2026
  • That might have caused something of a revolt among American NFL fans wanting to drive down the road to their local team's stadium and enjoy America's game – in America.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Amid rising French sovereign debt pressures and inflation remaining above target, such continuity could reduce market anxieties over abrupt policy shifts while mitigating potential volatility across European bond markets.
    — , CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
  • With anxieties rising across the land, the couple’s relationship begins to fracture when Sovieshu falls in love with runaway slave Rashta (Lee Seyoung) and attempts to move heaven and earth to win her heart.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • But the possibility that these new tracks were augmented by AI saps the novelty, in the same way that an AI video of a raccoon climbing a string of Christmas lights isn’t cute in the slightest.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
  • To gin up attention, the group’s PR person staged a stunt that involved the band climbing the statute of Eros in the middle of the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain in London’s Piccadilly Circus.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • By then, graffiti had been scrubbed from the central monument that pays tribute to the French Republic, including its tradition of insurrection.
    — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • My assumption that the guest speakers’ anti-Communist insurrection might resonate with today’s youth and their antisystem rebellion proved to be mistaken.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • That structure won’t eliminate the symptoms waking you up, however.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The quest for deals occupies my every waking moment, with dozens of browser tabs monitoring major retailers, news releases, price comparisons, and more.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Oh, and Reed told Helen that Wallace was likely to be rewarded for being untainted by scandal — next stop, ascending from secretary of state for Defence to prime minister.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Starting out, Firstman didn’t dare dream of ascending the stairs to the Grand Palais or carving a path to the Oscars stage.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 4 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • In Fitzgerald’s heyday, barely-there bobs were a symbol of youth, rebellion, and liberation.
    — Molly Mulshine, InStyle, 30 Oct. 2026
  • As the competition unfolds, Haymitch risks everything to take down the Games from within the arena — setting in motion the rebellion that will change Panem forever.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • One of the most exciting advances in mobile computing just hit store shelves, as laptops with Nvidia's Spark-class processors are rolling out.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Baked by Melissa is rolling out bite-size cupcake liners, pans and at-home baking kits in Target stores.
    — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Uprising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uprising. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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