1
as in insurgent
taking part in a rebellion
the rebellious troops fought a pitched battle with divisions still loyal to the government
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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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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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The photograph depicts a foot soldier in an insurgent religious movement trying to storm the halls of American power.—
John Blake,
CNN,
12 Jan. 2025
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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
Adjective
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The attacks started this week after reports emerged that Assad loyalists had ambushed and killed members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – the rebel group that spearheaded the rebellion that ousted the former Syrian leader.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN,
9 Mar. 2025
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The singer and the songwriter traversed the frontlines of the urban guerrilla war that had consumed the city of Homs by that point, with one half of the city overtaken by regime soldiers and the other half controlled by rebel groups.—
Jawad Rizkallah,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But what will their first move as a traitorous duo be?—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images A defiant President Trump defended imposing new tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico – three of the United States' largest and most crucial trading partners – at a joint session of Congress Tuesday night.—
Obed Manuel,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
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Trump, in a defiant victory lap speech lasting roughly 100 minutes, credited his predecessor for high inflation and vowed to bring down the costs of everyday goods while previewing further economic pain from new tariffs.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Black’s fans can expect a show that encapsulates both the reflective and revolutionary aspects of Black’s music — a celebration of breaking personal boundaries and embracing the eclectic, liberating spirit that defines her music.—
Brittany Delay,
The Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2025
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Pioneering sustainability brand Solar Foods, which harnesses solar energy to produce food in revolutionary ways, will engage with special guests, including Hazzaa Al Mansoori, the first Emirati astronaut.—
Claudia Alarcón,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Another type of hyperpigmentation that kojic acid can help with is melasma—a stubborn and hard-to-treat skin condition characterized by splotchy, brown or grayish patches.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
4 Mar. 2025
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Like this Fire sign, Drizella is unapologetically stubborn and impatience, believing she is entitled to nothing but the best.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rebellious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rebellious. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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