rebel 1 of 3

adjective

ˈre-bəl How to pronounce rebel (audio)
Definition of rebelnext
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control today's rebel chefs feel free to ignore the dictates of classic French cuisine

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rebel

2 of 3

noun

as in insurgent
a person who rises up against authority the rebel would not submit peacefully, even after he was captured

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rebel

3 of 3

verb

ri-ˈbel How to pronounce rebel (audio)
as in to revolt
to rise up against established authority the colonists rebelled in the wake of an onslaught of abuses

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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
Hundreds of thousands of people in the eastern part of the DRC have been displaced as the rebel group has made swift advances against Congolese pro-government forces in recent weeks. — Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2025 But with the world’s attention rightly focused on the situation in Gaza, and with Iran and Russia weakened by their respective conflicts with Israel and Ukraine, Assad’s opposition, led by the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, seized the opportunity to act. — Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
The conflict has accelerated in recent weeks, with the rebels taking the key city of Goma in January and Bukavu, another provincial capital, this month. — Jean-Yves Kamale and Wilson McMakin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2025 Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, Houthi rebels have attacked navy and commercial ships transiting through the Red Sea. — Soham Mitra, Lou Robinson and Patrick Gallagher, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
When the sun in Aquarius squares off with Uranus in Taurus on the 9th, there could be a tumultuous clash between the stubborn resistance of Taurus and Aquarius’ desire to rebel. — Valerie Mesa, People.com, 11 Feb. 2025 Meanwhile, Gemma's niece Cady (Violet McGraw), now 14, has become a teenager, rebelling against Gemma's overprotective rules. — David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rebel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rebel
  1. rebellious
  2. insurgent
  3. revolt
  4. defiant
  5. revolutionary
  6. mutiny
Adjective
  • On Wednesday, March 12, The Kardashians star was joined by her mother Kris Jenner for the latest episode of her Khloé in Wonderland podcast, where the two looked back at some of Khloé's rebellious childhood moments.
    — Esther Kang, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Mickey, tasked with keeping her rebellious sister in line, never had the opportunity to be a kid.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of rebellious
Noun
  • While Syria's new rulers -- led by the Islamist former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham -- have pursued IS cells since taking power, some fear a breakdown in overall security that could allow the group to stage a resurgence.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Turkey, a close ally of Mr. al-Shara’s rebel group, has for years sought to curb the power of the Syrian Democratic Forces, maintaining that the militia is linked to Kurdish separatist insurgents inside Turkey.
    — Raja Abdulrahim, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of insurgent
Verb
  • In the 1890 midterm elections, voters revolted: McKinley lost his seat, and Democrats took control of the House.
    — Frank Holmes, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Senate Democrats revolted on Tuesday following the Trump administration’s sweeping freeze on federal aid by tanking a vote to sanction the International Criminal Court and promising there might be similar moves to come if the White House does not change its tune in short order.
    — Al Weaver, The Hill, 29 Jan. 2025
Definition of revolt
Adjective
  • Their bleeding champion — at the time a former and future president — raises a defiant fist.
    — John Scott Lewinski, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Mar. 2025
  • After being yelled at, children often feel defiant, defensive, and disconnected from their parent.
    — Daryl Austin, Parents, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of defiant
Noun
  • Born This Way Governed by eccentric Uranus — the planet of individuality, rebellion and unexpected breakthroughs — Aquarius is often considered the revolutionary of the zodiac.
    — Valerie Mesa, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Showrunner Tony Gilroy highlighted the film’s scale and ordinary characters, from Imperial overlords to passionate revolutionaries, in a statement Monday.
    — Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2025
Definition of revolutionary
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
Definition of mutiny

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Cite this Entry

“Rebel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebel. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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