uprising 1 of 2

uprising

2 of 2

verb

present participle of uprise

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
Riyadh weathered the first wave of the Arab uprisings by pouring money on the problem, announcing a social welfare package of more than $130 billion that included pay raises for government employees, new jobs, and loan forgiveness initiatives. Marwan Muasher, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2025 Then, in 1586, Mary was officially implicated in a plot to kill Elizabeth and spark a Catholic uprising in England. Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2025 Some demonstrators called for the 65-year-old Republican to be hanged during that violent uprising. Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025 Over the last millennium Poland experienced its share of invasions and uprisings against occupying forces. Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for uprising
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uprising
Noun
  • Ray, although in his forties, was at one with youth in revolt.
    Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Go deeper: Mike Johnson struggles to contain a GOP budget revolt Editor's note: This is a developing story.
    Andrew Solender, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • With prices still rising after the Covid-19 pandemic caused inflation to spike, shoppers at high and low income level are flocking to stores providing the best prices on commodities.
    Peter Cohan, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
  • The Consumer Pulse report showed that 51 percent of shoppers are anxious about the rising cost of living driven by higher energy and housing costs in the winter months.
    Hikmat Mohammed, WWD, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Bitcoin has rebounded to over $100,000 after a lull during the holiday period, climbing along with stock markets.
    Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Every child should know the awe of watching the sun rise over a pristine lake, the challenge of climbing a rugged trail, and the quiet of a night sky untouched by city lights.
    Alex Stout, Baltimore Sun, 5 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • McKinley took a similar approach in dealing with Spain during its brutal effort to suppress an insurrection in Cuba against Spanish imperial rule.
    Robert W. Merry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
  • His clemency toward those convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection – including seditious conspiracy and assaults on police officers – was different in key ways from the two previous efforts, by Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Ulysses S. Grant in 1873.
    David Cason, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Most climbers ascending the Grand are protected by belay ropes in case of a fall.
    Jim Clash, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
  • The vote happens in ascending player order this time.
    Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Or just a brilliant disguise?’ - from Brilliant Disguise Rock 'n' roll has always embodied rebellion and dissent.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Set in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal, where Mateus was raised, a peasant community of grape-pickers become agents in an open-air ritual of remembrance and rebellion.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Death in a hail of bullets has been used to punish mutinies and desertion in armies, as frontier justice in America’s Old West, and as a tool of terror and political repression in the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.
    Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Business leaders face challenges, including the frantic need for speedy decision-making, unexpected market shifts, geopolitical volatility, internal mutinies, power plays and harrowing decisions that can hurt the livelihood of their teams by cutting jobs.
    Carlo Tortora Brayda, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • One thing is clear; AI success is a journey, and the ability to rapidly leverage and adapt resources and technology is key — as new technologies and capabilities keep arising almost every day.
    Joe McKendrick, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Some of these traits worsen with age, again arising from a fear of losing control.
    Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Uprising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uprising. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on uprising

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!