1
a
: opposing or taking arms against a government or ruler
b
: of or relating to rebels
the rebel camp
2
rebelled; rebelling
1
a
: to oppose or disobey one in authority or control
b
: to renounce and resist by force the authority of one's government
2
a
: to act in or show opposition or disobedience
rebelled against the conventions of polite society
b
: to feel or exhibit anger or revulsion
rebelled at the injustice of life
Examples of rebel in a Sentence
Adjective
today's rebel chefs feel free to ignore the dictates of classic French cuisine
Noun
The government captured six armed rebels.
He was a rebel against the school administration.
He is a typical teenage rebel.
Verb
When the government imposed more taxes, the people rebelled.
The protesters are rebelling against the new tax law.
Children often rebel against their parents.
Recent Examples on the Web
Reuters, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025
When militants led by the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham reached Damascus last December, the capital fell without a fight.
—Marwan Muasher, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2025
Michael Bruening, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
The rebels on Friday also claimed to have seized a second airport in the region, in the town of Kavumu outside Bukavu.
—Justin Kabumba, arkansasonline.com, 16 Feb. 2025
Rebekah Taussig, TIME, 19 Feb. 2025
History is full of coups by either the ruled or those in charge of order rebelling against those who hold high office.
—arkansasonline.com, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebel
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Adjective
The rebel group’s capture of swathes of the east and valuable mineral deposits has fanned fears of a wider war.
—Reuters, CNN, 24 Feb. 2025
When militants led by the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham reached Damascus last December, the capital fell without a fight.
—Marwan Muasher, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
On the battlefield, the nobles’ cavalry and superior artillery brutally cut down the rebels.
—Michael Bruening, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
The rebels on Friday also claimed to have seized a second airport in the region, in the town of Kavumu outside Bukavu.
—Justin Kabumba, arkansasonline.com, 16 Feb. 2025
Verb
The headmistress of her school created bizarre ways to segregate her from the rest of the students, and when Kitty rebelled against these rules, she was expelled.
—Rebekah Taussig, TIME, 19 Feb. 2025
History is full of coups by either the ruled or those in charge of order rebelling against those who hold high office.
—arkansasonline.com, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebel
Cite this Entry
“Rebel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebel. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rebel
1 of 3 adjective
reb·el
ˈreb-əl 
1
: being or fighting against one's government or ruler
2
: not obeying
rebel
2 of 3 noun
: a person who refuses to give in to authority
rebel
3 of 3 verb
re·bel
ri-ˈbel
rebelled; rebelling
1
: to be against or fight against authority and especially the authority of one's government
2
: to feel or show anger or strong dislike
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