noun

rebel

/rɪˈbɛl/ · say it: rih·BEL

to resist authority or control

In Actions & Behavior

In more detail

1. (noun) a person who opposes or fights against authority or an established system

2. (verb) to refuse to obey rules or authority; to fight against a government or system

3. (verb) to show that you dislike or oppose something strongly

Examples

1. The rebels fought against the government for independence.
2. The teenager rebelled against her strict parents by refusing to follow their rules.
3. Many people rebelled against the new policy because they thought it was unfair.

How to use rebel

As a noun, a rebel is someone who actively opposes or resists authority, often with political or social connotations. As a verb, it means to actively resist or refuse compliance, and can range from political uprising to personal nonconformity. The term often carries a sense of principled resistance but can be used neutrally or slightly admiringly depending on context.

Common phrases

rebel against authority
rebel leader
young rebel
rebel group
rebel without a cause
armed rebel

Synonyms

resister · dissident · nonconformist · insurgent · revolutionary

Opposites

conformist · loyalist

Word family

rebellion (noun) · rebellious (adjective) · rebelliously (adverb) · rebelliousness (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse 'rebel' (noun/verb) with 'rebellion' (noun only); note that you can 'rebel' (verb) but you 'stage a rebellion' (noun phrase).

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