rebels

NOUN

person who does not obey

Synonyms

STRONGEST

guerrilla insurgent opponent rioter secessionist separatist

STRONG

agitator anarchist antagonist apostate demagogue deserter dissenter experimenter heretic iconoclast independent individualist innovator malcontent mutineer nihilist nonconformist recreant renegade resistance revolutionary revolutionist subverter traitor turncoat

WEAK

disectarian experientialist frondeur insurrectionary overthrower revolter schismatic seditionist

Antonyms

STRONG

adherent loyalist

VERB

refuse to obey

Synonyms

STRONGEST

defy overthrow renounce resist revolt secede take up arms

STRONG

boycott censure combat criticize denounce disobey dissent fight mutiny oppose overturn remonstrate riot strike upset

WEAK

be insubordinate break with come out against drop out get out of line insurrect make waves opt out rise up rock the boat run amok turn against

Antonyms

STRONGEST

comply give in obey surrender yield

STRONG

agree approve compliment endorse laud lose make peace praise sanction support

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Appeared in the April 9, 2026, print edition as 'Venezuela’s Prisons Still Full of Military Rebels'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Rebels block dairy and beef from entering Congo—except if it comes from Rwanda, traders and residents say.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

Lebanese director Danielle Arbid faced a similar dilemma with her film "Only Rebels Win", which is being shown in the festival's Panorama section, and is set in her hometown of Beirut.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

Departing offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., has been granted permission by Kiffin, LSU and Mississippi to return to the Rebels in the same capacity for the playoffs.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2025

After a while the children began shouting questions at the men like had they ever killed anybody and weren’t they afraid of the Rebels and so forth.

From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier