Synonyms of rebelnext
1
a
: opposing or taking arms against a government or ruler
b
: of or relating to rebels
the rebel camp
2

rebel

2 of 3

noun

: one who rebels or participates in a rebellion
rebelled; rebelling

intransitive verb

1
a
: to oppose or disobey one in authority or control
b
: to renounce and resist by force the authority of one's government
2
a
: to act in or show opposition or disobedience
rebelled against the conventions of polite society
b
: to feel or exhibit anger or revulsion
rebelled at the injustice of life

Examples of rebel in a Sentence

Adjective today's rebel chefs feel free to ignore the dictates of classic French cuisine Noun The government captured six armed rebels. He was a rebel against the school administration. He is a typical teenage rebel. Verb When the government imposed more taxes, the people rebelled. The protesters are rebelling against the new tax law. Children often rebel against their parents.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
The strict social codes can eventually wear on a society battling yearslong jihadi and rebel violence, analysts say. ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 The outbreak is unfolding in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable, with rebel threats and intense population movements. Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
And look towards the horizon, forget countries and watch out for rebels… or learn about all that in the trailer. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 Robert had made a bunch of money in the importing business and was a loyalist to the king; Mary, perhaps without her husband’s knowledge, supported the colonist rebels. Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
Starring Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, the movie portrays three working women who rebel against their sexist boss. Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Jones made rejection her trademark, rebelling against conformity and embracing an image and music that pushed boundaries and refused labels. Lisa Whittington-Hill, Longreads, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rebel

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin rebellis, from re- + bellum war, from Old Latin duellum

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rebel was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rebel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebel. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

rebel

1 of 3 adjective
1
: being or fighting against one's government or ruler
2
: not obeying

rebel

2 of 3 noun
: a person who refuses to give in to authority

rebel

3 of 3 verb
rebelled; rebelling
1
: to be against or fight against authority and especially the authority of one's government
2
: to feel or show anger or strong dislike
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