uprising

noun

up·​ris·​ing ˈəp-ˌrī-ziŋ 

: an act or instance of rising up

especially : a usually localized act of popular violence in defiance usually of an established government

Synonyms

• insurgence
• insurgency
• insurrection
• mutiny
• outbreak
• rebellion
• revolt
• revolution
• rising

Choose the Right Synonym for uprising

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 uprising in a Sentence

The government quickly put down the uprising.

the uprising was quickly and brutally suppressed

Recent Examples on the Web

These were anti-Axis uprisings, in which Iraqis and Lebanese sought to prioritize their own countries over the Axis’s plans for revolutionary havoc in the region. —Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024

The two are thrown into the chaos of a political uprising, on opposite sides of the war. —Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024

He was jailed multiple times for demonstrating against the regime since the start of the uprising. —Claire Harbage, NPR, 17 Dec. 2024

Should the new hijab bill be implemented, the Islamic Republic might face a repeat of the uprising that nearly brought about its undoing. —Kay Armin Serjoie, TIME, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

uprising

noun

up·​ris·​ing ˈəp-ˌrī-ziŋ 

: an act or instance of rising up