rebel 1 of 3

adjective

ˈre-bəl How to pronounce rebel (audio)
Definition of rebelnext
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control today's rebel chefs feel free to ignore the dictates of classic French cuisine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rebel

2 of 3

noun

as in insurgent
a person who rises up against authority the rebel would not submit peacefully, even after he was captured

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rebel

3 of 3

verb

ri-ˈbel How to pronounce rebel (audio)
as in to revolt
to rise up against established authority the colonists rebelled in the wake of an onslaught of abuses

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 rebel
Adjective
Starmer had previously vowed to stand in any formal Labour leadership race triggered by rebel lawmakers who feating a 2029 election wipeout sought to replace him. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 22 June 2026 In early 2025, fighting broke out between Congolese authorities and groups led by the rebel paramilitary group M23. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Noun
Finding an off-ramp is increasingly becoming necessary for GOP leadership as House rebels threaten to shut down the floor in the absence of a path forward. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 25 June 2026 When the conversation turned to the subject of war, however, the president would come alive, describing the kinds of fighter jets Russia used to bombard rebel positions in Syria and naming towns with stubborn pockets of resistance. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Verb
Not be outdone, a couple of New Jersey towns even 'rebelled' against data centers despite there being no plan to actually build them! — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 24 June 2026 Male guardians of this ideological camp circulated defamatory letters from prison, denouncing me for unveiling and rebelling against mandatory veiling. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rebel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebel
  1. rebellious
  2. insurgent
  3. revolt
  4. defiant
  5. revolutionary
  6. mutiny
Adjective
  • For seven seasons, a hodgepodge crew mixing Starfleet and the rebellious Maquis put aside their differences after they got zapped 70,000 lightyears away from Earth, deep into the uncharted Delta Quadrant.
    — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026
  • This could bring about sudden ideas, or trigger rebellious impulses and creative imagination.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Definition of rebellious
Noun
  • Fujimori, 51, is the daughter of late President Alberto Fujimori, who governed the country ​with an iron fist from 1990 to 2000 and was credited with defeating Maoist insurgents and taming runaway hyperinflation.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 4 July 2026
  • Syria has been without a parliament since the December 2024 offensive by insurgents led by al-Sharaa’s now defunct Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, which ended the Assad family’s five-decade dynasty.
    — Ghaith Alsayed, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of insurgent
Verb
  • Because of the enormous scale of content that had to be produced nonstop, lest fans revolt against its scarcity, Destiny was only very rarely profitable during its entire lifespan.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Luddites revolted against the loom in the 1830s, while newspapers perpetuated the drama.
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 27 June 2026
Definition of revolt
Adjective
  • Femi was defiant as he was interviewed in the ring following his victory.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2026
  • Laurie Whitwell Were South Africa unlucky after defiant defensive display?
    — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 28 June 2026
Definition of defiant
Noun
  • Good luck with that message in flyover country when the revolutionaries don’t enjoy the advantages of light-turnout primaries.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Many became meeting places for the Founding Fathers and other revolutionaries as tensions with Britain grew.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of revolutionary
Verb
  • In 1841, John Quincy Adams, a President turned congressman and Supreme Court advocate, appeared before the Court, seeking the freedom of people kidnapped from Africa who mutinied en route to America on the slave ship Amistad.
    — Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 2 July 2026
  • Which is why the elites will mutiny even before the army does - out of fear.
    — Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of mutiny

Phrases Containing rebel

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rebates
rebel
rebel (against)
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Cite this Entry

“Rebel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebel. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of rebel for Spanish Speakers

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