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

Relevance

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
Assad's cousin Atef Najib, who was blamed for atrocities that helped trigger the uprising in Syria 15 years ago, was put on trial in April. Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2026 Ali Riaz, a professor of political science at Illinois State University, said the uprising was a response to Hasina's decades-long draconian rule. Shamim Chowdhury, NPR, 5 Aug. 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
  • Democratic primaries have been shaped by a progressive revolt against the party establishment.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Could Infantino’s close relationship with the president be adding even more fuel to the revolt?
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • During totality, the temperature could briefly fall by 18 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) before rising rapidly again once the sun reappears.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Images shared by Russian media outlets from the town of Podolsk showed columns of black smoke rising from the site.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts the test positivity rate for the week ending August 8 above 3% for the first time since March, with numbers climbing in every state.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The numbers are vast and climbing again but during the countdown to another season, beginning on Friday night, there has been another timely marker to illustrate the rapid financial growth of the Premier League and its elite.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • Stephen Colbert’s award-winning Late Show was canceled in a move that many have labeled political appeasement, and the flagship evening newscast baselessly recast the January 6 insurrection as a partisan squabble.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • But when their boat breaks down, the trip devolves into a waking nightmare.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Research The Route Before You Cruise The challenge is knowing which arrivals are worth waking for.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • That’s in line with modern baseball trends, with MLB front offices employing more sophisticated evaluation tools to monitor their ascending arms.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The fate of Duke, diagnosed with a life-threatening ascending aortic aneurysm, is ambiguous.
    Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In several instances these rituals were utilized during slave rebellions; the New York slave rebellion of 1712 reportedly began with a pact sealed in blood and powder, a practice with African religious parallels.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Freedom matters to you more than keeping up with traditions, which is where your financial savviness comes into play, not to mention rebellion.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The sixth-generation minivan rolling out in Denver was built with snowy weather in mind, Bonelli said.
    Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026
  • But for those who want a more traditional path, Arizona State is rolling out a new degree, a Bachelor of Arts in content creation.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Uprising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uprising. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on uprising

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster