as in revolutionary
taking part in a rebellion
any insurgent soldiers will be dealt with harshly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in rebel
a person who rises up against authority
the government subjected the insurgents to the most inhuman torture imaginable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 insurgent
Ammar Cheikh Omar, NBC News, 6 Dec. 2024
Since insurgent interactions with al Qaeda are almost certain to be clandestine, at least at first, detecting violations of the deal will be a test of U.S. intelligence gathering.
—David Petraeus, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2020
Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
The Iranian regime has held Americans hostage and supported terrorists and insurgents who have killed U.S. service members in Lebanon and Iraq.
—Reid Smith, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for insurgent
Adjective
Members of the insurgent forces also told NBC News that bombing by Russian aircraft overnight also focused on the Rustan bridge along the main route to Homs, presumably in a bid to slow the rebels' advance.
—Ammar Cheikh Omar, NBC News, 6 Dec. 2024
Since insurgent interactions with al Qaeda are almost certain to be clandestine, at least at first, detecting violations of the deal will be a test of U.S. intelligence gathering.
—David Petraeus, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2020
Noun
The warning issue June 11 said terrorist and insurgent groups regularly attacked Iraqi security forces and civilians and anti-U.S. militias threatened U.S. citizens and international companies.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
The Iranian regime has held Americans hostage and supported terrorists and insurgents who have killed U.S. service members in Lebanon and Iraq.
—Reid Smith, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for insurgent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insurgent
Adjective
-
Despite being one of his earliest works, the home showed signs of Wright’s clever revolutionary design.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
14 July 2025
-
This revolutionary new self-landing system is being installed in some private planes.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
The Houthis paused attacks until the U.S. launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
8 July 2025
-
Shortly after that, Israeli airstrikes on Iranian weapons shipments to Hezbollah across neighboring Syria — at the time, a key ally of Iran — weakened the dictatorship of President Bashar al-Assad, who was overthrown last December by rebels.—
James Hider,
NPR,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
From director James DeMonaco, creator of The Purge franchise, actor-comedian Davidson plays Max in The Home, a rebellious twenty-something sentenced to community service at a quiet retirement home.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
10 July 2025
-
The story follows rebellious young demigod Ne Zha, who wrestles with his powers and the threat of humanity’s destruction.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
Michael Fassbender plays a British intelligence officer tasked with finding who leaked a top-secret software program and betrayed their country, and the list of five potentially traitorous suspects includes his own high-profile wife (Cate Blanchett).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
-
Smith made out their former collaborators to be ungrateful and traitorous, and the kids weren't given the space to question her command.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
At least three people were killed in the treacherous flood waters streaming through a mountain village in New Mexico, which also knocked an entire home from its foundations and then swept it away.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
9 July 2025
-
The search has been complicated by treacherous terrain, and the fact that crews are looking for an Army veteran skilled in wilderness survival who had a three-day head start.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Even more provocative was Slocum’s conviction that a domestic life could be built upon the planks of a ship, amid seasick squalor, a mutinous crew, and crazy-making monotony and isolation.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
9 July 2025
-
By the time Sandro Tonali walked into United’s box for a clear strike, only to hit the post, the atmosphere was mutinous.—
Laurie Whitwell,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Insurgent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insurgent. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share