Insurgent
mediumNeutral tonein-SUR-juhnt
adjective
Definition
rising in active revolt against authority
Memory hook
INSURGENT = IN + SURGE—imagine a SURGE of rebels rising up against the rulers; to surge against authority is to be insurgent.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“Insurgent forces seized the capital before dawn, catching the army off guard.”
“The party's insurgent wing rejected the leadership's compromise outright.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“______ forces seized the capital before dawn, catching the army off guard.”
Show answer
Insurgent
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Insurgent is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "rebellious" or "mutinous" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "loyal".
Related GRE Words
partisan
a strong, often blindly biased supporter of a party or cause
pioneering
Involving new ideas or methods
antipathy
a deep, settled feeling of dislike or aversion
appease
To pacify or placate someone by acceding to their demands
belligerent
Hostile and aggressive; engaged in war or conflict
discord
Disagreement between people; lack of harmony
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