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
The reactivated sentence was connected to Panahi’s attendance of a funeral in 2009 of a student shot dead in the Green Revolution and his later attempt to shoot a feature set against the backdrop of the uprising. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026 Just weeks after the experiment ended, a prison uprising at Attica Correctional Facility in New York was thwarted with deadly force, resulting in 43 deaths. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 21 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
  • By Thursday morning, a rebellion by several members of Peña's own conservative Colorado Party had become a party-wide revolt.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The Texas revolt will, in the long run, likely have an impact on national politics as profound as California’s transformation away from Pete Wilson–era GOP dominance in the 1990s.
    — Sasha Abramsky, Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Reflecting the wave of the volatile but rising stock market, state officials have sharply boosted the tax revenue estimates that increase the state budget surplus.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The rising trend in 2026 is polished casual, such as a blazer over a tee, pleated trousers and loafers or ballet flats.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Read More on News The footage shows a small group in dark suits climbing the marble steps of the Memorial Amphitheater by the tomb.
    — Lars Hanson, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Temperatures will generally reach the 70s, with a few far northern communities climbing into the lower 80s.
    — Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 11 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Trump spent the day at the White House watching coverage, watching Fox News, trying to give himself an insurrection.
    — Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Nov. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • Thank you very much for waking me up and lighting a fire under me.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 8 Nov. 2026
  • That structure won’t eliminate the symptoms waking you up, however.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 28 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • These awe-inspiring animals can grow up to 20 feet long and engage in mysterious mating rituals, swimming in synchronous, ascending spirals.
    — Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Nov. 2026
  • But before ascending the caffeine mountaintop, the business was a humble roadside operation.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The pope will celebrate Mass in Cusco’s main square, where in 1781 the Indigenous hero Túpac Amaru II was killed following the most significant rebellion against the Spanish during the colonial era.
    — Luis Andres Henao, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The pope will celebrate Mass in Cuzco’s main square, where in 1781 the Indigenous hero Túpac Amaru II was killed after the most significant rebellion against the Spanish during the colonial era.
    — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The latest Pokemon Happy Meals are also rolling out internationally, including in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Fiji, and Spain this month, with additional countries scheduled to receive the collection through February 2027.
    — Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The campaign started rolling out in print publications last week and will break across Louis Vuitton’s digital channels from Friday, in tandem with its arrival in stores.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 9 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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