Synonyms for rebellious
rɪˈbɛl yəsre·bel·lious

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. rebellious

   Rebellious signifies being in a state of rebellion (see REBELLION under REVOLUTION), and is even extended to inanimate things that resist control or adaptation to human use. Ungovernable applies to that which successfully defies authority and power; unmanageable to that which resists the utmost exercise of skill or of skill and power combined; rebellious, to that which is defiant of authority, whether successfully or unsuccessfully; seditious, to that which partakes of or tends to excite a rebellious spirit, seditious suggesting more of covert plan, scheming, or conspiracy, rebellious more of overt act or open violence. While the unmanageable or ungovernable defies control, the rebellious or seditious may be forced to submission; as, the man has an ungovernable temper; the horses became unmanageable; he tamed his rebellious spirit. Insubordinate applies to the disposition to resist and resent control as such; mutinous, to open defiance of authority, especially in the army, navy, or merchant marine. A contumacious act or spirit is contemptuous as well as defiant. Compare OBSTINATE; REVOLUTION.

   Synonyms:
   contumacious, disobedient, insubordinate, intractable, mutinous, refractory, seditious, uncontrollable, ungovernable, unmanageable

   Antonyms:
   compliant, controllable, deferential, docile, dutiful, gentle, manageable, obedient, submissive, subservient, tractable, yielding

   Preposition:
   Rebellious to or against lawful authority.

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. rebelliousadjective

   resisting control or authority

   "temperamentally rebellious"; "a rebellious crew"

   Synonyms:
   malcontent, disaffected, ill-affected

   Antonyms:
   content, contented, subordinate, loyal

2. disaffected, ill-affected, malcontent, rebelliousadjective

   discontented as toward authority

   Synonyms:
   malcontent, disaffected, ill-affected

   Antonyms:
   content, contented, subordinate, loyal

3. rebelliousadjective

   participating in organized resistance to a constituted government

   "the rebelling confederacy"

   Synonyms:
   malcontent, disaffected, ill-affected

   Antonyms:
   loyal, contented, content, subordinate

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. rebelliousadjective

   Synonyms:
   insubordinate, riotous, disobedient, mutinous, refractory, contumacious, seditious, traitorous

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. rebelliousadjective

   Synonyms:
   insurgent, seditious, mutinous, insubordinate, refractory

   Antonyms:
   dutiful, submissive, docile, compliant, deferential, obedient

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "rebellious":

   rebel, insurgent, rebels, firebrand, insurgency, treason

Suggested Resources

1. rebellious

   Song lyrics by rebellious -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by rebellious on the Lyrics.com website.

How to pronounce rebellious?

How to say rebellious in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use rebellious in a sentence?

1. Keven Kwaku:

   Information Superhighway is really an acronym for 'Interactive Network For Organizing, Retrieving, Manipulating, Accessing And Transferring Information On National Systems, Unleashing Practically Every Rebellious Human Intelligence, Gratifying Hackers, Wiseacres, And Yahoos'.

2. Aldous Huxley:

   Sons have always a rebellious wish to be disillusioned by that which charmed their fathers.

3. Ramana Pemmaraju:

   Profound thinkers either become astute lovers or rebellious spirit”

4. Simone de Beauvoir:

   In order for the artist to have a world to express he must first be situated in this world, oppressed or oppressing, resigned or rebellious, a man among men.

5. Michael Bellamy:

   It’s totally against what tattoos stand for: the permanence, the commitment, the rebellious [spirit], everyone in my age group is going to laugh at this and say it’s not for strong people. It’s not the real deal.