insurgent

An insurgent is a rebel or a revolutionary, someone who takes up arms against the authorities.

Insurgent is from the Latin word “insurgentem,” literally meaning “to rise against,” so think of an insurgent as a fighter who rises against the people in power. Often insurgents are considered terrorists because they use violence to intimidate people.

Definitions of insurgent
  1. adjective
    in opposition to a civil authority or government
    synonyms: seditious, subversive
    disloyal
    deserting your allegiance or duty to leader or cause or principle
  2. noun
    a person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions)
    synonyms: freedom fighter, insurrectionist, rebel
    see moresee less
    examples:
    Nat Turner
    United States slave and insurrectionist who in 1831 led a rebellion of slaves in Virginia; he was captured and executed (1800-1831)
    Denmark Vesey
    United States freed slave and insurrectionist in South Carolina who was involved in planning an uprising of slaves and was hanged (1767-1822)
    Sir William Wallace
    Scottish insurgent who led the resistance to Edward I; in 1297 he gained control of Scotland briefly until Edward invaded Scotland again and defeated Wallace and subsequently executed him (1270-1305)
    types:
    mutineer
    someone who is openly rebellious and refuses to obey authorities (especially seamen or soldiers)
    Young Turk
    a member of one or more of the insurgent groups in Turkey in the late 19th century who rebelled against the absolutism of Ottoman rule
    type of:
    crusader, meliorist, reformer, reformist, social reformer
    a disputant who advocates reform
    revolutionary, revolutionist, subversive, subverter
    a radical supporter of political or social revolution
  3. noun
    a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment
    synonyms: guerilla, guerrilla, irregular
    see moresee less
    types:
    Maquis, Maquisard
    a guerrilla fighter in the French underground in World War II
    urban guerrilla
    a guerrilla who fights only in cities and towns
    type of:
    warrior
    someone engaged in or experienced in warfare
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