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insurgent

insurgents; insurgently

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
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘insurgent'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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