Synonyms of insurrection

insurrection

noun

ˌin(t)-sə-ˈrek-shən 

as in revolt

open fighting against authority (as one's own government)

the famous insurrection of the slaves in ancient Rome under Spartacus

Synonyms & Similar Words

• revolt
• uprising
• mutiny
• rebellion
• insurgency
• revolution
• insurgence
• outbreak
• coup
• overthrow
• treachery
• rising
• sedition
• treason
• coup d'état
• sabotage
• subversion
• coup d'etat
• misprision

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• counterinsurgency
• counterrevolution

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun insurrection differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of insurrection are mutiny, rebellion, revolt, revolution, and uprising. While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," 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

In what contexts can mutiny take the place of insurrection?

The synonyms mutiny and insurrection are sometimes interchangeable, but mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

When is it sensible to use rebellion instead of insurrection?

The words rebellion and insurrection can be used in similar contexts, but rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

When can revolution be used instead of insurrection?

While in some cases nearly identical to insurrection, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

When is uprising a more appropriate choice than insurrection?

The meanings of uprising and insurrection largely overlap; however, uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of insurrection

Yoon’s lawyers had also argued that the crime of insurrection is not included within the investigative jurisdiction of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) – the agency that had requested the arrest warrant against the leader. —Gawon Bae, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025

Meanwhile, Yoon faces a separate criminal trial on charges of insurrection. —Ian Bremmer, TIME, 28 Feb. 2025

More recently, in March 2024, his court issued a unanimous decision blocking state-level efforts to bar Trump from the ballot under the Constitution’s insurrection clause—a ruling that secured Trump’s path to renomination. —Nik Popli, TIME, 19 Mar. 2025

The Department of Justice expunged the January 6th insurrection from its website, and whitehouse.gov took down an explainer page about the Constitution. —Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2025