Synonyms of uprising

uprising 1 of 2

noun

ˈəp-ˌrī-ziŋ 

as in revolt

open fighting against authority (as one's own government)

the uprising was quickly and brutally suppressed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• revolt
• insurrection
• rebellion
• mutiny
• revolution
• insurgency
• insurgence
• outbreak
• coup
• overthrow
• rising
• treachery
• coup d'état
• sedition
• treason
• sabotage
• subversion
• misprision

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• counterinsurgency
• counterrevolution

uprising

2 of 2

verb

present participle of uprise

1

as in rising

to leave one's bed

uprise! we have lots of work to do today!

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rising
• waking
• rolling out
• arising
• awakening
• awaking
• getting up
• turning out
• stirring
• arousing
• bestirring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• retiring
• sleeping
• bedding (down)
• turning in
• slumbering
• resting
• dropping off
• nodding
• dozing
• napping
• settling
• lying (down)
• lying up
• snoozing
• roosting
• bunking
• reclining
• catnapping
• flopping (down)
• perching
• couching
• dossing (down)

2

as in climbing

to move or extend upward

as we went from the coast into the state's interior, the land gradually began uprising and eventually we were on mountainous terrain

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rising
• climbing
• ascending
• soaring
• mounting
• lifting
• arising
• upping
• thrusting
• aspiring
• upturning
• uprearing
• sloping
• surging
• upthrusting
• tilting
• towering
• leaning
• upraising
• uplifting
• scaling
• inclining
• upheaving
• elevating
• topping
• raising
• zooming
• boosting
• tipping
• ballooning
• surmounting
• taking off
• cresting
• reclining
• blasting off
• slanting
• listing
• canting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• declining
• falling (off)
• descending
• plunging
• dropping
• dipping
• sliding
• sinking
• diving
• plummeting
• nose-diving

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

Recent Examples of uprising

Noun

Iran has experienced many communications blackouts in the immediate aftermath of uprisings but never anything like the current one. —Talla Mountjoy, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026

The regime said some 3,000 people have been killed in the demonstrations, which began in late December as an economic protest quickly broadened into a general uprising advocating the fall of the ayatollahs. —The Week Us, TheWeek, 20 Jan. 2026

Verb

But was that uprising really such a good idea? —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025