revolution

noun

ˌre-və-ˈlü-shən How to pronounce revolution (audio)
Definition of revolutionnext
1
as in rotation
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point revved the engine to 3000 revolutions per minute

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in revolt
open fighting against authority (as one's own government) the revolution by which the American colonies gained their independence from Great Britain necessitated going up against the world's most powerful army

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun revolution differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of revolution are insurrection, mutiny, rebellion, revolt, and uprising. While all these words mean "an outbreak against authority," revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

When is mutiny a more appropriate choice than revolution?

Although the words mutiny and revolution have much in common, mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

When would rebellion be a good substitute for revolution?

The meanings of rebellion and revolution largely overlap; however, rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

How are the words revolt and insurrection related as synonyms of revolution?

Both revolt and insurrection imply an armed uprising that quickly fails or succeeds.

a revolt by the Young Turks that surprised party leaders
an insurrection of oppressed laborers

When could uprising be used to replace revolution?

The words uprising and revolution are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

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 revolution Amid President Trump’s threats to start a global trade war, invade Greenland, seize control of the Panama Canal and annex Canada, this story has gone virtually unnoticed: Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in decades — maybe since the 1959 revolution. —Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025 Artificial intelligence is driving more rapid technological and societal change than any previous tech revolution, a leading venture capitalist said. —Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 3 June 2025 Navigating the cognitive revolution True creativity, innovation and research are not just probabilistic recombinations of past data. —Wolfgang Messner, The Conversation, 2 June 2025 After all, the true revolution might just start with a midday nap or a quiet cup of coffee. —Jasmine Browley, Essence, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for revolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for revolution
  1. rotation
  2. revolt
  3. curve
  4. uprising
  5. spin
  6. insurrection
  7. rebellion
  8. mutiny
Noun
  • As these large-cap altcoins appreciate, further capital rotation occurs into mid-cap and smaller-cap altcoins.
    — Cloris Chen, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Payne did not play in Game 3 after Delon Wright and Landry Shamet were bumped up a spot in the rotation.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
Definition of rotation
Noun
  • Five days later, after a revolt, he was reinstated.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025
  • Related article As Trump reignites a trade war and faces a bond market revolt, the economy is about to go through the wringer this week It’s been somewhat difficult to assess the true health of consumer spending lately.
    — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 27 May 2025
Definition of revolt
Noun
  • The driver sped away, police said, but crashed at South Belt Line Road and Wheat Hill Drive after failing to negotiate a curve.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 June 2025
  • With two on and two outs after a leadoff walk and an Aaron Judge double, Buehler tried to execute a below-the-zone knuckle curve.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Definition of curve
Noun
  • Karen Young, founder of the inclusive body care brand Oui the People, similarly recalls the emotional labor of leading during collective crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 racial uprisings and the recent election.
    — Jasmine Browley, Essence, 28 May 2025
  • Filmmakers, inspired by the uprising, began creating without hijab, without state approval, and often in complete secrecy.
    — Ali Farahmand, IndieWire, 23 May 2025
Definition of uprising
Noun
  • Bluey is being given a German spin with a dose of star power.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 May 2025
  • Urban sky-gazers take a contemporary spin on this Neolithic astronomy concept by pinpointing days when the sun seems to rise or set between a canyon of skyscrapers.
    — Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 27 May 2025
Definition of spin
Noun
  • What’s the political climate, social climate that has to exist in order for an insurrection to appear?
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
  • It was suspended across the states during the entire Civil War; in counties in South Carolina that were overrun by the Ku Klux Klan during Reconstruction; in specific places in the Philippines during an insurrection in 1905; and in Hawaii following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
    — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 9 May 2025
Definition of insurrection
Noun
  • Hulu's Emmy-winning series pushed far beyond the events in Margaret Atwood's 1985 book, building to a rebellion in the totalitarian, patriarchal nation where women are dehumanized and used as vessels for breeding.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 28 May 2025
  • While there were wins for the rebellion, Gilead lives on with many of June’s strongest allies trapped there at the start of the episode, like Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) and Janine (Madeline Brewer).
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 26 May 2025
Definition of rebellion
Noun
  • Congressional Republicans Thursday agreed to move forward with President Trump’s sprawling budget plan a day after a mutiny by right-wing lawmakers threatened to derail it.
    — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In 1995, prosecutors wanted to question the former military dictator Chun Doo-hwan on insurrection and mutiny charges stemming from his role in a 1979 coup and a massacre of demonstrators the following year.
    — Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Definition of mutiny

Browse Nearby Words

revolts (against)
revolution
revolutionaries
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Revolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revolution. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on revolution

Nglish: Translation of revolution for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about revolution

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