uprising

noun

the uprising was put down by government forces

Syn:

rebellion, revolt, insurrection, mutiny, revolution, insurgence, intifada, rioting, riot; civil disobedience, unrest, anarchy, coup, coup d'état, putsch

••

uprising, insurgency, insurrection, mutiny, putsch, rebellion, revolution

There are a number of ways to defy the established order or overthrow a government. You can stage an uprising, which is a broad term referring to a small and usually unsuccessful act of popular resistance (uprisings among angry workers all over the country). An uprising is often the first sign of a general or widespread rebellion, which is an act of armed resistance against a government or authority; this term is usually applied after the fact to describe an act of resistance that has failed (a rebellion against the landowners). If it is successful, however, a rebellion may become a revolution, which often implies a war or an outbreak of violence (the American Revolution). Although a revolution usually involves the overthrow of a government or political system by the people, it can also be used to describe any drastic change in ideas, economic institutions, or moral values (the sexual revolution). An insurrection is an organized effort to seize power, especially political power, while an insurgency is usually aided by foreign powers. If you're on a ship, you can stage a mutiny, which is an insurrection against military or naval authority. But if you're relying on speed and surprise to catch the authorities off guard, you'll want to stage a putsch, which is a small, popular uprising or planned attempt to seize power.