UPRISING Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'uprising' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of uprising are insurrection , mutiny , rebellion , revolt , and revolution . While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion. // quickly put down the uprising

Q: When would 'mutiny' be a good substitute for 'uprising'?

The words mutiny and uprising are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority. // a mutiny led by the ship's cook

Q: When could 'rebellion' be used to replace 'uprising'?

The meanings of rebellion and uprising largely overlap; however, rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful. // open rebellion against the officers

Q: How are the words 'revolt' and 'insurrection' related as synonyms of 'uprising'?

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

Q: Where would 'revolution' be a reasonable alternative to 'uprising'?

In some situations, the words revolution and uprising are roughly equivalent. However, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government). // a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

uprising 1 of 2

noun

ˈəp-ˌrī-ziŋ

Definition of uprising next

as in revolt

open fighting against authority (as one's own government) the uprising was quickly and brutally suppressed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

uprising

2 of 2

verb

present participle of uprise

as in rising

to leave one's bed uprise! we have lots of work to do today!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in climbing

to move or extend upward as we went from the coast into the state's interior, the land gradually began uprising and eventually we were on mountainous terrain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun uprising differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of uprising are insurrection, mutiny, rebellion, revolt, and revolution. While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

When would mutiny be a good substitute for uprising?

The words mutiny and uprising are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 uprising?

The meanings of rebellion and uprising largely overlap; however, rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

How are the words revolt and insurrection related as synonyms of uprising?

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

Where would revolution be a reasonable alternative to uprising?

In some situations, the words revolution and uprising are roughly equivalent. However, revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

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 uprising

Noun

After leading some of his fellow players in an uprising against the games, Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) sees his rebellion instantly squashed. —

Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025 The document appears to be prosecutors' notes prepared for a trial before Roman officials on the eve of the Bar Kokhba revolt—a major Jewish uprising against Roman rule that took place between A.D. 132–136. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025 The political uprising quickly turned into an armed insurrection. —

Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025 Assad’s particular brutality militarized Syria’s initially peaceful uprising, justifying an increasingly militant opposition to him. —

Fawaz A. Gerges, Foreign Affairs, 27 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for uprising

Recent Examples of Synonyms for uprising

Noun

The directive prompted a revolt at the Justice Department that burst into public view when Danielle Sassoon, the acting head of the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York, resigned in protest rather than file a motion seeking to drop the case.

— Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2025
Trump had his first big flop Punctuating the week was the Trump administration’s first big policy setback: the abrupt freeze, and then unfreezing, of federal grant funds amid a public revolt.

— Will Weissert, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2025