uprising

noun

up·​ris·​ing ˈəp-ˌrī-ziŋ 

: an act or instance of rising up

especially : a usually localized act of popular violence in defiance usually of an established government

Synonyms

• insurgence
• insurgency
• insurrection
• mutiny
• outbreak
• rebellion
• revolt
• revolution
• rising

Choose the Right Synonym for uprising

rebellion, revolution, uprising, revolt, insurrection, mutiny mean an outbreak against authority.

rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

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

mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

Examples of uprising in a Sentence

The government quickly put down the uprising.

the uprising was quickly and brutally suppressed

Recent Examples on the Web

In Memphis and beyond, Wells spurred uprisings that sought to dismantle these supremacies of racial capitalism. —Faron Levesque, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2024

For months last year, Mr. Prigozhin railed against him in videos posted online, assailing him for incompetence in a fight for influence that ultimately ended with the mercenary leader trying to oust him in a failed uprising last summer. —Anton Troianovski, New York Times, 12 May 2024

Leading Democrats press an odd response to campus uprisings across the nation: dismiss and stigmatize the persisting tide of students pleading for peace in the Middle East. —Bruce Fuller, Orange County Register, 12 May 2024

The uprisings were manifestly not simply the eruption of a mindless Arab street. —Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

uprising

noun

up·​ris·​ing ˈəp-ˌrī-ziŋ 

: an act or instance of rising up