rebellion

noun

ri-ˈbel-yən How to pronounce rebellion (audio)
Definition of rebellionnext
1
as in revolt
open fighting against authority (as one's own government) the rebellion would have failed if not for the aid sent by other countries

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in defiance
refusal to obey the period of rebellion that teenagers typically go through

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun rebellion differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of rebellion are insurrection, mutiny, revolt, revolution, and uprising. While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

Where would mutiny be a reasonable alternative to rebellion?

The words mutiny and rebellion can be used in similar contexts, but mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

How do revolt and insurrection relate to one another, in the sense of rebellion?

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

When might revolution be a better fit than rebellion?

The words revolution and rebellion are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

In what contexts can uprising take the place of rebellion?

While in some cases nearly identical to rebellion, uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

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 rebellion 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 Amid a rebellion over the SAVE Act, Johnson lost control of the House floor for a second time this week, sending lawmakers home early for the July Fourth recess. — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 2 July 2026 It was printed in newspapers in England, too—where King George III spent the next month reminding his ministers that America was in a state of rebellion and should be treated accordingly. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rebellion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebellion
  1. revolt
  2. defiance
  3. insurrection
  4. rebelliousness
  5. uprising
  6. willfulness
  7. mutiny
  8. disobedience
Noun
  • The people ended up burning down the house of one of the tax collectors, prompting President George Washington to raise the first federal army against them and quickly quell the revolt.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • At once pugnaciously combative and unreservedly sentimental, Landon chose to take the series out with a commentary on class revolt.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
Definition of revolt
Noun
  • Additionally, occasional rule-breaking and defiance are considered a normal part of child and adolescent development.
    — Elizabeth Dowdell, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • The funeral was also used to project defiance, with thousands of mourners filling Tehran and chanting for revenge.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of defiance
Noun
  • The pair took a big swing in 2022 around the first anniversary of the Capitol insurrection on January 6.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • The violence, described as a failed insurrection by President Cyril Ramaphosa, vandalized more than 160 shopping malls, led to tens of thousands of job losses, and cost the economy roughly $3 billion.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of insurrection
Noun
  • Marji’s rebelliousness, both admirable and terrifying for those who love her, is her salient characteristic.
    — Hillary Chute, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
  • The pseudo-goth hair and costume choices speak to an inner rebelliousness that isn’t so much unleashed as forced loose by a system that values the appearance of a mythical impartiality over her humanity, leaving her with little recourse but to step outside the confines of the law.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
Definition of rebelliousness
Noun
  • Johnny Knoxville faces a summer camp uprising as his new comedy heads to theaters.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
  • Egypt’s tourism has started to recover after years of years of political turmoil and violence following the 2011 uprising, as well as the coronavirus pandemic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of uprising
Noun
  • Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.
    — Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
Definition of willfulness
Noun
  • Amid the mutiny in the House, Johnson canceled unrelated votes, struggling to get enough support to move the legislation.
    — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • The war's disastrous optics erode his legitimacy, amplified by internal dissent like a viral military blogger's mutiny warning and soldiers threatening officers.
    — Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of mutiny
Noun
  • But many Catholics, including conservative and traditional ones, are opposed to the consecrations, viewing them as an act of severe disobedience to the pope that hurts the church.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • But many Catholics not in Econe, including conservative and traditional ones, opposed the consecrations as an act of severe disobedience that hurts the church.
    — Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of disobedience

Browse Nearby Words

rebelling (against)
rebellion
rebellions
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on rebellion

Nglish: Translation of rebellion for Spanish Speakers

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