Vocabulary in context
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Rebel
Noun: a person who opposes or resists authority or control. Verb: to resist or rise against authority or established norms.
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Imagine This
Picture a student who is tired of a strict dress code. At a school assembly, they speak up, wearing a bright, unconventional shirt as a quiet challenge to the rule. Peers start calling them a rebel, and others begin to question the policy too.
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Sounds Like
REH-buhl
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Looks Like
Related to the word rebellion; shares the root idea of resisting authority
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Remember This
Rebel derives from terms meaning opposition to authority; closely related words include rebellion and rebellious. The act of resisting is linked to conflict or protest rather than mere disagreement.
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Other Forms
rebellionnoun
rebelliousadjective
rebelsnoun
rebelledverb
rebellingverb
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Note
Do not confuse rebel with rebel against inanimate rules; also distinguish the noun (a person) from the verb (to oppose). The adjective form is rebellious.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The rebels captured the fort and declared independence.
- Many citizens chose to rebel against unjust laws.
Synonyms
insurgentdissenternonconformistrenegaderevoltist
Antonyms
loyalistconformistobedient
Etymology
From Old French rebel(l)e 'one who opposes', from Late Latin rebellis 'opposing, warring', from re- 'back' + bellum 'war'.
Mnemonic
REBEL = Resist Every Boundary, Expose Liberty
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Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).
Ambivalence
nounThe state of having two opposing feelings or attitudes at the same time; simultaneous contradictory feelings about a person, thing, or idea.
Prolific
adjectiveProducing a large amount of something; highly productive or fertile, often referring to people who create many works or results.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Defy
verbTo openly challenge or refuse to obey; to resist, confront, or dare against someone or something.
Resist
verbTo withstand or oppose the effect, influence, or pressure of something; to refuse to comply or yield.
Finesse
noun and verbNoun: refined skill, tact, or diplomacy in handling a situation; Verb: to handle or achieve something with such skill or by clever, delicate maneuvering.
Pioneer
noun and verbNoun: a person who is among the first to explore, settle, or introduce a new method or idea; a trailblazer. Verb: to be the first to develop or introduce something.
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