rebel 1 of 3

rebel

2 of 3

noun

rebel

3 of 3

verb

as in to revolt
to rise up against established authority the colonists rebelled in the wake of an onslaught of abuses

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rebel
Adjective
The world has become a series of separate totalitarian quarantine zones and independent settlements, with a thriving black market and a rebel militia known as the Fireflies making life complicated for the survivors. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 7 Jan. 2025 Tony Gilroy’s series, which follows rebel spy Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) during his radicalization against the Galactic Empire, is pretty handily the best and most thought-provoking project to come out of the Star Wars universe since at least The Last Jedi. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
The European Union is eyeing an easing of sanctions on Syria, one month after Islamist rebels overthrew the government of Bashar al-Assad. Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 Jan. 2025 The rebels have targeted some 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza started in October 2023. Jon Gambrell The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 11 Jan. 2025
Verb
The Electric State imagines a world in which robots have rebelled, been punished, and sentenced to exile in the titular state. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2024 Some kids, growing up, want to rebel and follow a different path from their parents. Essence, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for rebel 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebel
Adjective
  • The proposals infuriated members of the Freedom Caucus, many of whom had engaged in those kind of rebellious actions over the past two years.
    Emily Brooks, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Saturn, the planet of structure and discipline, adds a sense of responsibility while rebellious Uranus, the planet of innovation and change, inspires this Air sign to think outside the box and embrace individual freedom.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • In Myanmar, where the government regards any aid entering conflict zones as support for insurgents, that can mean international groups operate almost clandestinely to get lifesaving provisions to the local groups that can distribute them.
    Karl Vick, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025
  • While the military did not disclose details about the individuals killed, Balochistan has long been a hotspot for insurgent activity.
    John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Johnson’s game plan runs counter to the wishes of the Freedom Caucus, which has a track record of being a thorn in the side of leadership and revolting against top lawmakers — at times grinding the House to a halt — when their preferences are not prioritized.
    Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 7 Jan. 2025
  • The Shadow Strays Year: 2024 Runtime: 2h 25m Director: Timo Tjahjanto The maniacal director of The Night Comes for Us returns to Netflix with a chaotic epic about an assassin who revolts against her handlers.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Weakened, isolated but defiant: Hamas faces a crossroads with the cease-fire.
    Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Yoon has remained defiant in the face of the investigations and an impeachment trial underway by one of the country’s highest courts.
    Gawon Bae, CNN, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • James addresses the problem by creating a revolutionary who resembles himself: not just a single-minded ideologue, but a masterful craftsman, a lover of art and a sensitive friend.
    Max Chapnick, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The terms right-wing and left-wing come from the French Revolution, when the nobility, who sought to preserve the status quo, sat on the right side of the National Assembly, and the revolutionaries, who wanted democratic change, sat on the left.
    Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • In June 2023, the group mutinied and marched on Moscow before then leader Yevgeny Prigozhin negotiated a deal with the Kremlin.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Meanwhile, any question that Jod and Captain Silvo (the pirate whose crew mutinied in the series premiere) are one and the same was dismissed, when Brutus and his crew spoke of how Silvo had escaped the brig before facing a trial.
    Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 10 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near rebel

Cite this Entry

“Rebel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebel. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rebel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!