1
as in insurgent
taking part in a rebellion
the rebellious troops fought a pitched battle with divisions still loyal to the government
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rebel
given to resisting authority or another's control
expected her son to grow a little more rebellious as he got older, but she knew he understood when to kick and when to obey
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rebellious
But its legacy endures alongside Fawkes’ rebellious reputation: Each year before the Houses of Parliament’s official State Opening, the royal bodyguards perform a ceremonial search of its cellars in recognition of the failed Gunpowder Plot.
—
Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2025
The wildly rebellious press across Europe are a vibrant sign of its free speech.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025
Luna will meet with rebellious Uranus in a surprising trine, bringing a jolt of excitement and unexpected revelations to your love life.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
Marking Talati’s debut feature, Girls Will Be Girls revolves around Mira (Panigrahi), a 16-year-old coming of age in the Himalayan foothills whose rebellious awakening is intertwined with her mother’s (Kani Kusruti) unfulfilled coming-of-age experiences.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebellious
Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2025
The wildly rebellious press across Europe are a vibrant sign of its free speech.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025
Luna will meet with rebellious Uranus in a surprising trine, bringing a jolt of excitement and unexpected revelations to your love life.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
Marking Talati’s debut feature, Girls Will Be Girls revolves around Mira (Panigrahi), a 16-year-old coming of age in the Himalayan foothills whose rebellious awakening is intertwined with her mother’s (Kani Kusruti) unfulfilled coming-of-age experiences.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rebellious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebellious
Adjective
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Burrows' win marks a defeat for the insurgent right wing of the GOP that eschewed working with Democrats.—
Shafaq Patel,
Axios,
15 Jan. 2025
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Members of the insurgent forces also told NBC News that bombing by Russian aircraft overnight also focused on the Rustan bridge along the main route to Homs, presumably in a bid to slow the rebels' advance.—
Ammar Cheikh Omar,
NBC News,
6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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The blame for this terrifying scenario, McCarthy declared, rested with traitorous federal employees, who had sold their country out and had to be purged from its service.—
Made by History,
TIME,
9 Feb. 2025
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Guinevere, usually relegated to the thankless role of traitorous wife, acts here as Arthur’s beloved confidante.—
Elizabeth Hand,
Washington Post,
16 July 2024
Adjective
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That’s a defiant stance for a horror movie to take.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2025
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Pierce answered all of them in resounding, almost defiant, fashion.—
James Boyd,
The Athletic,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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When Arnault took control of LVMH, his strategy wasn't revolutionary: maintaining luxury brand exclusivity while expanding global reach.—
Marius Ivanauskas,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
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Enter Khadija Imara who co-founded an innovative and revolutionary hair comb that efficiently unravels multiple braids at the same time while also detangling hair – The Original Unbraider.—
Sheilla Mamona,
refinery29.com,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Still facing a stubborn staffing crunch, the New York City Department of Correction will require officers to work mandatory 12-hour tours in a number of city jails, a move immediately criticized by their union.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2025
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The financial outlook from nation’s largest retailer, which has thrived amid stubborn inflation, delivered a jolt across the retail sector.—
Anne D’Innocenzio,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rebellious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebellious. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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