uprising 1 of 2

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
President Woodrow Wilson invoked the Insurrection Act in 1914 to address a labor uprising in Colorado, while President Warren Harding invoked it in 1921 to quell a labor uprising in West Virginia. Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025 Could a major uprising be next? Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025 Moroccan protesters are using social media platforms like TikTok and Discord—a messaging app popular among gamers and also used during the Nepal uprising—to organize, with the group 'Gen Z 212' and other groups coordinating rallies. Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025 In 2015, the Basateen al-Razi district of Damascus was destroyed as punishment for the population’s uprising against Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for uprising
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uprising
Noun
  • Former Roanoke women's swim captain Lily Mullens, who led an athlete revolt against the program in 2023 that culminated in a press conference and lawsuit, told Fox News Digital her reaction to Spanberger's answer.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The Onondagas support plans announced by the mayor of Syracuse in 2020 to remove the statue of Columbus, an Italian explorer who helped the Spanish establish a colonial foothold in the Caribbean and later suppressed revolts by Indigenous people.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Wealthier Americans have been assisted by rising house values, lucrative stock market returns and favorable credit, while lower- and middle-income buyers have faced tighter budgets and been hit hard by rising inflation.
    Michael Wayland, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Two luxury condominium towers rising to 412 feet and 453 feet.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The barely there silhouette retails from $795 for core colorways, like Reinhart’s black pair, climbing to $950 for textured finishes like red, gold and green snakeskin.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
  • At an elementary school in southwest Boise, in the fall of 2020, children in pre-K went to their recess on the playground, laughing and climbing ladders to reach the slide.
    Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There has to be an insurrection in order for him to be allowed to invoke it.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2025
  • First passed in 1792, the federal law gives presidents the power to deploy the military domestically under certain conditions, such as civil disorder, insurrection and armed rebellion.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Ames Ward, the producer who was seen on the stream waking Speed up that very morning, says the experience of bringing Speed to so many cities in little more than a month was simply incredible.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Both men are doing stuff that keeps them occupied, interests them on some level and pays the bills, but doesn’t consume their every waking thought.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Undoubtedly, there are parallels to 2024 when the Bears — off their bye and riding a three-game winning streak — visited the Commanders for a showcase game with hopes that their season was ascending.
    Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
  • With a new coach, a new offensive coordinator and an ascending quarterback, the Patriots looked like a legitimate challenger to Buffalo in their 23-20 victory.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But things change the next morning when all of the clans light burning crosses in a call to action to join the Jacobite rebellion — a call that Brian must answer or face being labeled a traitor.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025
  • His effort to suppress the rebellion and restore federal authority marked the beginning of the Civil War.
    Josh Meyer, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The European Union, for example, just started rolling out a new Entry and Exit System (EES) in which travelers use biometric data to gain entry to 29 European countries.
    Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Laura Modiano, who heads up OpenAI's startups division in EMEA, drew a comparison between American and European founders based on her extensive work with founders across both regions and rolling out AI features.
    Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Uprising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uprising. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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