Synonyms of revolt

revolt 1 of 2

noun

as in insurrection

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

soon the revolt had spread to every corner of the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• counterinsurgency
• counterrevolution

revolt

2 of 2

verb

ri-ˈvōlt 

1

as in to disgust

to cause to feel disgust

the jury appeared to be revolted by the grisly details of the murder

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disgust
• repulse
• sicken
• appal
• appall
• horrify
• nauseate
• repel
• outrage
• distress
• shock
• put off
• gross out
• displease
• disquiet
• insult
• turn off
• turn one's stomach
• offend
• affront

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pull
• attract
• draw
• charm
• seduce
• tempt
• disarm
• entice
• lure
• rejoice
• delight
• captivate
• fascinate
• please
• allure
• gratify
• beguile
• entrance
• enchant
• tickle
• appeal (to)
• bewitch
• interest
• intrigue
• enthrall
• enrapture
• enthral

2

as in to rebel

to rise up against established authority

the students practically revolted when the school cancelled the championship football game

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rebel
• mutiny
• kick over the traces
• resist
• disobey
• fight
• revolutionize
• mock
• oppose
• withstand
• contest
• defy
• combat
• buck

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• follow
• submit
• comply (with)
• serve
• obey
• mind
• attend

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun revolt differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of revolt are insurrection, mutiny, rebellion, 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

When is it sensible to use mutiny instead of revolt?

The meanings of mutiny and revolt largely overlap; however, mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

When could rebellion be used to replace revolt?

While in some cases nearly identical to revolt, rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

When can revolution be used instead of revolt?

Although the words revolution and revolt have much in common, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

When might uprising be a better fit than revolt?

The synonyms uprising and revolt are sometimes interchangeable, but uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of revolt

Noun

Carney assumed his role as Liberal leader and prime minister after his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, announced his resignation in January amid a polling slump for the Liberal Party and an internal revolt in his cabinet. —Max Saltman, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025

This change sparked revolt and, eventually, revolution. —Carla Gardina Pestana, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2025

Verb

But leaders of more than a dozen federal agencies and departments revolted and told employees, that the world's wealthiest man isn't their boss. —Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025

Senate Democrats are starting to revolt against President Trump’s agenda on Capitol Hill amid fallout from an initial freeze on all foreign assistance, warning Republicans that failure to work together will incur consequences. —Laura Kelly, The Hill, 30 Jan. 2025