rebel
rebel Lexical Profile
rebel Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who rises in opposition or armed resistance against an established government, ruler, or authority.
"The historical museum features letters written by a young rebel during the nineteenth-century uprising."
A person who resists or defies conventional rules, established authority, or accepted social norms.
"In her youth, she was known as a creative rebel who challenged traditional artistic conventions."
• verb
To rise in opposition or armed resistance against an established government, ruler, or authority.
"The provinces threatened to rebel if the heavy taxation policies were not repealed."
To resist or defy authority, control, or generally accepted conventions.
"Teenagers often rebel against strict household rules as they seek greater independence."
To feel or express strong repugnance, aversion, or protest toward something.
"His conscience began to rebel at the thought of deceiving his closest colleagues."
• adjective
Of, relating to, or consisting of rebels; acting in opposition or insurrection against an established government or authority.
"Negotiators met with the rebel leaders to discuss the terms of a lasting truce."
Word Nuance & Usage
The word 'rebel' is a heteronym whose stress shifts by part of speech: as a noun or adjective, the stress falls on the first syllable (REB-uhl), whereas as a verb, the stress falls on the second syllable (ri-BEL).
• Rhymes for rebel
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 13th century from Old French rebelle, from Latin rebellis ('waging war again, insurgent'), derived from re- ('again, against') and bellum ('war').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.