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

Many feared a revolt that would end with numerous deaths, echoing the prison uprising in Attica, New York, in 1971. —Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025

The National Guard can be deployed to assist Americans during natural disasters and in times of insurrection or open revolt. —Brian Bennett, Time, 6 Oct. 2025

Verb

Several professional medical societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, have revolted against the government, and last month published immunization guidelines that diverge from the current CDC’s. —Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025

There are blood stains in the bathroom, a revolting mess in the toilet. —Judy Berman, Time, 20 Aug. 2025