Synonyms of mutiny

mutiny 1 of 2

noun

ˈmyü-tə-nē 

as in revolt

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

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• counterinsurgency
• counterrevolution

mutiny

2 of 2

verb

as in to rebel

to rise up against established authority

the party's conservative faction mutinied just before the election

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun mutiny differ from other similar words?

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

The synonyms rebellion and mutiny are sometimes interchangeable, but rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

How do revolt and insurrection relate to one another, in the sense of mutiny?

Both 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 revolution instead of mutiny?

While the synonyms revolution and mutiny are close in meaning, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

When can uprising be used instead of mutiny?

Although the words uprising and mutiny have much in common, uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mutiny

Noun

Specifically, how the outies of Mark, Helly, Irvin and Dylan are reacting to last season's mutiny. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025

Every Newcastle fan of a certain generation remembers Ruud Gullit’s infamous spell as manager and the mutiny that was caused by him dropping Alan Shearer, the local hero, for a derby defeat against Sunderland, early in the 1999-2000 season. —Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024

Verb

Within days, however, Congo’s troops mutinied against their all-white officer corps (a holdover from the colonial era) and started terrorizing the European population. —Stephen R. Weissman, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2014

After the officer in charge hanged one of the men, the crew mutinied, built their own ship, and sailed home, abandoning the fort some 11 months after their arrival. —Shanti Menon, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019