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 Islamic Republic crushed a nationwide uprising in January, has an economy in free fall, and is fighting a war with America. Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 30 July 2026 Set against a backdrop of turbulent transition as the Middle Ages move into modernity, the film follows the three men on their long and arduous journey, across a Europe ravaged by wars and uprisings, to Versailles. Ed Meza, Variety, 28 July 2026
Verb
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
  • Donor revolts—growing widespread skepticism toward higher education.
    Scott White, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Online, millennials are declaring open revolt against their aging boomer parents.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • After the match, Brock Lesnar Oba Femi destroyed Brock Lesnar in their first encounter, which made an already rising Oba Femi into an overnight sensation.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Farmers facing restrictions on irrigating their crops are warning of smaller fruit harvests and rising prices this season.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Orioles are climbing up the American League wild-card standings, and new catcher Carlos Narváez is a firm believer the postseason is in reach.
    Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Cameras in north Minneapolis have captured cars trying to beat trains across the tracks, people climbing between rail cars and ignoring stop arms.
    Ashley Grams, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The disparities from slavery to Jim Crow continue to haunt Black life and have fueled Black insurrection.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
  • Commentators such as Canadian journalist and filmmaker Paul Jay, founder and former CEO of The Real News Network, have described the 2021 insurrection as a dry run for future attempts to subvert American democracy.
    James Robenalt, Vanity Fair, 27 July 2026
Verb
  • Drinking coffee immediately after waking may spike cortisol, causing stress, energy crashes, and disrupted sleep.
    Erin Hooker Published, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Responsibility for the ship was delegated to an officer who operated under the captain's standing orders, with explicit guidance on which issues could be addressed independently and which required waking the captain.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • But like Young, Verse was a player ascending but not yet ascended.
    Nate Atkins, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The footage, shared by Adcock on X, shows the robot ascending a ladder without visible human assistance or remote control.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In April 2012, a coalition of Tuareg rebel groups under the Coordination of Azawad Movements declared independence and sparked a rebellion alongside Islamic militants.
    ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
  • Many employers double down on rigid return-to-office rules, surveillance and gimmicks, even as workers fight back with coffee badging, ghost bookings and other quiet rebellions.
    Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Boston community and city leaders say new safety measures are rolling out this week, after recent alarming violence in Downtown Boston around Boston Common and Downtown Crossing.
    Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Meta is rolling out its first coding agent called Muse Code as the company tries to challenge leading AI labs Anthropic and OpenAI.
    Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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