renegade

Examples

• All

• Garfunkel, the renegade, took joy in finding small ways to outwit his teachers.

  Academic text (2003)

• How does an independent school deal with a "renegade" trustee?

  Academic text (2006)

• Now he was being called a renegade and a liar.

  Fiction book (1992)

• ...you think he has other legitimate doctors here who agree with him, or think he could be just some sort of a renegade?

  Hope Springs (2012)

• The gentleman is a renegade, a swindler, and a cheat.

  Shanghai Surprise (1986)

• Renegade scientists designed this to be the most addictive drug possible.

  Alien Private Eye (1989)

• And it seems that at the time of the Ghost Dance Nahalla was a renegade who couldn't accept the dream of peace with the whites.

  The Ghost Dance (1982)

• A revolt against czarist government, led by a renegade Cossack Stenkarazin, brought anarchy to southern Russia.

• Muslim liberal thinkers, secularists, and Westernized writers have always been looked upon as renegades from Islam.

  Academic text (1996)

• After he disagreed with the group's direction, many labeled him a renegade for his radical ideas.

Synonyms

R

rebel

vsrenegade

658 3.6

A person who acts against the government or people in power

often involves desertion or betrayal rather than only opposition

T

traitor

vsrenegade

• Offensive

381 3.9

A person who breaks the trust of their country, group, or friend to help an enemy

includes both betrayal and active opposition, not only direct disloyalty

I

insurgent

vsrenegade

• Literature

93 8.6

A person who fights against the government, often as part of a small armed group

may simply desert or reject principles rather than fight against authority

D

defector

vsrenegade

43 7.6

A person who leaves their country or group to join an opposing side

may reject or oppose without switching sides to an opponent

T

turncoat

vsrenegade

• Offensive

13 8.2

A person who leaves their group to join the opposite side

may betray or leave without openly joining the other side

A

apostate

vsrenegade

• Formal

11 9.9

A person who leaves a religion, party or cause and is seen as disloyal

applies broadly to any desertion or rejection, not only religion or politics

D

deserter

vsrenegade

4 5.1

A person who leaves a group or cause and is seen as disloyal

can include active betrayal or public opposition, not only physical departure

R

ratter

vsrenegade

• Offensive

2 9.9

A person who betrays their friends or group

is a neutral term usable in formal contexts rather than insulting speech

I

insurrectionist

vsrenegade

1 9.8

A person who takes part in an armed attack to try to remove a government

can mean betrayal or desertion without armed violence or overthrow

R

recreant

vsrenegade

• Offensive

1 9.9

A person who is not brave and betrays friends or causes

focuses on desertion or betrayal without implying personal cowardice

S

seditionist

vsrenegade

• Formal

1 9.4

A person who encourages others to rebel against the government or other authority

focuses on promoting revolt rather than abandoning or betraying a group

T

treasonist

vsrenegade

• Formal

9.9

A person who betrays their country by giving secrets to enemies

covers desertion or betrayal beyond crimes against the state

R

revolter

vsrenegade

7.9

A person who takes part in a revolt against authority

may reject or leave a group without taking up open rebellion

Antonyms

L

loyalist

42 4.8

A person who supports a government, leader, or cause during a revolt

Compounds

R

renegade state

• Literature

9.5

A state that breaks international rules and acts against other countries

How Disloyal

traitor

• Offensive

381 3.9

renegade

46 7.9

rebel

658 3.6

dissenter

22 7.2

critic

563 3.0

supporter

817 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology