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antigovernment

American  
[an-tee-guhv-ern-muhnt, -er-muhnt, an-tahy-] / ˌæn tiˈgʌv ərn mənt, -ər mənt, ˌæn taɪ- /

adjective

  1. opposed to or in rebellion against an existing government.

  2. of or relating to a political group, military force, etc., seeking to replace or overthrow an existing government.


Other Word Forms

  • antigovernmental adjective

Etymology

Origin of antigovernment

anti- + government

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Iran this month faced the largest round of antigovernment protests and the greatest challenge to its hold on power since taking over in 1979.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026

The protests are the largest antigovernment actions since nationwide demonstrations in 2022 following the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurdish woman, but that have yet to equal their scale.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2026

Tehran on Thursday saw its biggest antigovernment protests since the unrest started in late December.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 9, 2026

Bouazizi’s self-immolation catalyzed the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia as well as a series of antigovernment uprisings across North Africa and the Middle East, often called the “Arab Spring.”

From Salon • May 4, 2024

Inspired by the Defiance Campaign, the COD was formed in late 1952 as a party for radical, left-wing, antigovernment whites.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela