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.

Cuban forces supported rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while troops helped Ethiopia repel a Somali invasion.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

M23 rebels and the Congolese government are making concessions to allow sample shipments amid the outbreak.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

There has also been a case in eastern DR Congo's biggest city, Goma, which has a population of around 850,000 people and under the control of Rwandan-backed rebels.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

M23 rebels last year seized control of swathes of the North and South Kivu regions, including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

In our game, he was an evil space pirate, and we were the half-robot half-human rebels who were trying to save the world.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman