rebel

[ noun adjective reb-uhl; verb ri-bel ]

noun

1. a person who refuses allegiance to, resists, or rises in arms against the government or ruler of their country.

   Synonyms: insurrectionist, insurgent, traitor, mutineer

2. a person who resists any authority, control, or tradition.

adjective

1. rebellious; defiant.

   Synonyms: mutinous, insurgent

2. of or relating to rebels.

verb (used without object)

, re·bel, re·belled, re·bel·ling.

1. to reject, resist, or rise in arms against one's government or ruler.

   Synonyms: mutiny, revolt

2. to resist or rise against some authority, control, or tradition.
3. to show or feel utter repugnance:

   His very soul rebelled at spanking the child.

rebel

verb

1. to resist or rise up against a government or other authority, esp by force of arms
2. to dissent from an accepted moral code or convention of behaviour, dress, etc
3. to show repugnance (towards)

noun

1. 1. a person who rebels
   2. ( as modifier )

      a rebel leader

      a rebel soldier

2. a person who dissents from some accepted moral code or convention of behaviour, dress, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈrebeldom, noun

Other Words From

• rebel·like adjective
• non·rebel noun adjective
• pro·rebel adjective
• semi·rebel noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rebel¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English adjective rebel(e), from Old French rebelle, from Latin rebellis “renewing a war,” equivalent to re- re- + bell(um) “war” + -is adjective suffix; Middle English verb rebelle(n), from Old French rebeller and Latin rebellāre; noun derivative of the adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rebel¹

C13: from Old French rebelle , from Latin rebellis insurgent, from re- + bellum war

Example Sentences

Malakhov says there are criminals who have joined the rebel ranks and are exerting influence with their new positions.

From The Daily Beast

Excerpted from Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson by S.C. Gwynne.

From The Daily Beast

Despite its recent gains on the battlefield, the fight against rebel brigades has taken a significant toll on the government army.

From The Daily Beast

But the calmness in rebel-held Donetsk on Sunday night suggested no big push is planned in the next few hours, at least.

From The Daily Beast

Other more moderate rebel groups have long claimed that was the case.

From The Daily Beast

The rebel Planner had fallen from his allegiance, and was making his terms with the enemy.

From Project Gutenberg

The rebel general opportunely arrived in Singapore at or about the time of the outbreak of American-Spanish hostilities.

From Project Gutenberg

De Valor resumed it, when he raised the rebel standard on the Alpuxara mountains.

From Project Gutenberg

Lastly, there was Aguinaldoʼs old rebel party, which rallied to the one cry “Independence.”

From Project Gutenberg

It was one of these rebel detachments that passed the four fugitives from Cawnpore on the outskirts of Bunnee.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• guerrilla
• insurgent
• opponent
• rioter
• secessionist
• separatist