rebellion

noun

re·​bel·​lion ri-ˈbel-yən How to pronounce rebellion (audio)
Synonyms of rebellion
1
: opposition to one in authority or dominance
2
a
: open, armed, and usually unsuccessful defiance of or resistance to an established government
b
: an instance of such defiance or resistance

Did you know?

Plenty of teenagers rebel against their parents in all kinds of ways. But a rebellion usually involves a group. Armed rebellions are usually put down by a country's armed forces, or at least kept from expanding beyond a small area. The American War of Independence was first viewed by the British as a minor rebellion that would soon run its course, but this particular rebellion led to a full-fledged revolution--that is, the overthrow of a government. Rebellion, armed or otherwise, has often alerted those in power that those they control are very unhappy.

Synonyms of rebellion

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rebellion, revolution, uprising, revolt, insurrection, mutiny mean an outbreak against authority.

rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

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

mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

Examples of rebellion in a Sentence

The king's army suppressed the rebellion. The unfair tax laws sparked a rebellion. The peasants rose in rebellion. She's the head of a rebellion against the leaders of the party. Recent election losses have led to open rebellion among some party members, who are calling for a complete change of leadership.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Prince Harry gave the ring (ironically a sign of rebellion and new beginnings) to his new wife Meghan Markle in 2018. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 26 June 2026 These battles have completely receded from the American imagination, even though, in some ways, the American rebellion was a sideshow to a far greater imperial drama. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 2 July 2026 The British Army also provided protection from attacks by Native American tribes, giving many settlers little reason to support a rebellion. — Hank Tester, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Stunt designed to showcase agility, not AI rebellion Despite alarming many viewers at first glance, the viral video does not show a humanoid robot experiencing a software failure or acting independently. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rebellion

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rebellion was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

rebeller
rebellion
rebellious
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Cite this Entry

“Rebellion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebellion. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rebellion

noun
re·​bel·​lion ri-ˈbel-yən How to pronounce rebellion (audio)
1
: open opposition to authority
2
: open fighting against authority (as one's government)

More from Merriam-Webster on rebellion

Nglish: Translation of rebellion for Spanish Speakers

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