as in rebellions
open fighting against authority (as one's own government)
the famous insurrection of the slaves in ancient Rome under Spartacus
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Recent Examples of insurrections
Unlike coups or insurrections, which are swift and explicit, modern democratic backsliding is often incremental.
—
Helena Carpio, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
The 1807 measure allows the president to deploy members of the military or federalize state National Guard members to contain insurrections.
—Sarah Davis, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2026
Wars and insurrections have afflicted other parts of the Middle East, but Baghdad—a city whose name was once synonymous with suicide bombings and sectarian murder—has been spared.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
The president can also legally invoke the military under the Insurrection Act, which allows troops to be deployed in order to curb insurrections.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Helena Carpio, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
The 1807 measure allows the president to deploy members of the military or federalize state National Guard members to contain insurrections.
—Sarah Davis, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2026
Wars and insurrections have afflicted other parts of the Middle East, but Baghdad—a city whose name was once synonymous with suicide bombings and sectarian murder—has been spared.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
The president can also legally invoke the military under the Insurrection Act, which allows troops to be deployed in order to curb insurrections.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insurrections
Noun
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Urban uprisings and rebellions by Blacks stretched from coast to coast.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
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Here are some notable uses of the Insurrection Act, usually to quell rebellions or in cases where local or state authorities were unable or unwilling to maintain order or uphold the Constitution.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Continue reading … THINK AGAIN — New 'microgeneration' of students revolts against 'cringy' campus wokeness.—
,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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The royal government was also known as a dictatorship for banning political parties, suppressing revolts and political opposition, controlling the press and having its own secret police force called SAVAK.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Arab Spring uprisings reached Syria in 2011 and blazed up into civil war.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Urban uprisings and rebellions by Blacks stretched from coast to coast.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This includes leader assassination attempts by political opponents or lone wolves or mutinies by disgruntled soldiers who might even march on the presidential palace to demand higher pay, promotions or other policy concessions.—
John Joseph Chin,
The Conversation,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insurrections.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insurrections. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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