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
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2
as in defiance
refusal to obey
the period of rebellion that teenagers typically go through
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Recent Examples of rebellion
That in itself feels like a form of rebellion, daring to celebrate the living-and-breathing humanity of those who once felt erased and invisible.
—
Tomris Laffly, Variety, 25 May 2026
Four years later, the Powhatans launched a rebellion against English colonists.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 25 May 2026
Astrologically, the sun represents our identity, vitality and physical presence, while Uranus is the planet of rebellion, innovation and unexpected change.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
The movie, set in Spain in 1944, is both an intoxicating work of fantasy and a grim parable of political rebellion, and its insights into the cruelties and vulnerabilities of fascist power remain undimmed.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rebellion
Tomris Laffly, Variety, 25 May 2026
Four years later, the Powhatans launched a rebellion against English colonists.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 25 May 2026
Astrologically, the sun represents our identity, vitality and physical presence, while Uranus is the planet of rebellion, innovation and unexpected change.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
The movie, set in Spain in 1944, is both an intoxicating work of fantasy and a grim parable of political rebellion, and its insights into the cruelties and vulnerabilities of fascist power remain undimmed.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rebellion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebellion
Noun
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Many leaders would have resisted such a revolt.—
Bill Fischer,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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There were more than 50 days of popular revolt, which were met with considerable police violence, resulting in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.—
Roberto Andrés,
The Dial,
28 May 2026
Noun
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From Stonewall’s 1969 uprising to today’s golf tournaments, human rights summits and bar crawls, Pride events in Los Angeles, New York and global cities mix festival energy with defiance.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
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Tensions escalated when Tigray held regional elections in defiance of thata federal delay, leading to a political standoff that erupted into a civil war in November 2020.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Noun
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Prosecutors also revealed private messages to from Tarrio to senior leaders of the Proud Boys taking credit for the insurrection.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
24 May 2026
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Pamela Hemphill, who served a 60-day sentence for participating in the insurrection, later rejected a pardon from the president for her actions.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
24 May 2026
Noun
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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
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The natural obstinacy and rebelliousness of Israa’s teenage years are hyperaccelerated by culture clashes with both her family and the other kids around her.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Sparked by then-president Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to abandon European Union membership in favor of closer ties with Russia, the Maidan uprising ultimately led to his ouster.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2026
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In War and Peace, Tolstoy’s concept—among a million other things—was to show how the young people who lived through the Napoleonic invasion went on to lead Russia’s first democratic uprising, the Decembrist Revolt of 1825.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Within six months, Richards’ side of the group staged a mutiny, locked Diekmann in his apartment, and forced him to relinquish control.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
1 June 2026
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The in-fighting and mutiny across ownership, staff, players and fans after a miserable campaign.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Noun
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The Catholic Church teaches that all other people are conceived with original sin as a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden.—
Bridget Retzloff,
The Conversation,
2 June 2026
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There is zero tolerance for political disobedience.—
Daniel Drake,
The New York Review of Books,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rebellion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebellion. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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