passive resistance

noun

: resistance especially to a government or an occupying power characterized mainly by noncooperation

Examples of passive resistance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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One is obvious; the body in flight, legs wide, arms behind, daring-do meets passive resistance. Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026 In June 2025, a previous security decree that the Italian Parliament passed cracked down on protest activity including road blockades and even some acts of passive resistance. Chad De Guzman, Time, 6 Feb. 2026 Their spokesman: a young, unknown Martin Luther King, Jr., advocating non-violent, passive resistance. Martha Teichner, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2026 Envy between peers becomes passive resistance. Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for passive resistance

Word History

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of passive resistance was in 1779

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Cite this Entry

“Passive resistance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passive%20resistance. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

passive resistance

noun
: resistance especially to a government or an occupying power characterized mainly by noncooperation

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