re|volt

re|volt «rih VOHLT», noun, verb.

–n.

the act or state of rebelling: »

The town is in revolt against higher school taxes. It was not possible to think of such things without a revolt of his whole being (Edith Wharton).

–v.i.

1. to turn away from and fight against a leader; rise against the government's authority: »

The people revolted against the dictator.

2. to turn away with disgust: »

to revolt at a bad smell. Our whole hearts revolt against the way women have hitherto been treated (William H. Mallock).

–v.t.

to cause to feel disgust: »

A dirty restaurant revolts even a hungry man. There were several…whom this brutality revolted (Robert Louis Stevenson).

SYNONYM(S): repel, sicken.

╂[< Middle French révolte < Italian rivolta, ultimately < Latin revolvere; see etym. under revolve (Cf. ↑revolve)]

–re|volt´er, noun.

Synonym Study noun. Revolt, insurrection, rebellion mean a rising up in active resistance against authority. Revolt emphasizes casting off allegiance and refusing to accept existing conditions or control: »

The revolt of the American colonists developed into revolution.

Insurrection applies to an armed uprising of a group, often small, poorly organized, and selfishly motivated: »

The insurrection was started by a few malcontents.

Rebellion applies to open armed resistance organized to overthrow the government or force it to do something: »

A rebellion may become civil war.