satyagraha

noun

sa·​tya·​gra·​ha (ˌ)sə-ˈtyä-grə-hə How to pronounce satyagraha (audio)
ˈsə-tyə-
: pressure for social and political reform through friendly passive resistance practiced by M. K. Gandhi and his followers in India

Examples of satyagraha in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Nothing in the philosophy of satyagraha (passive resistance), or under the First Amendment to the Constitution, says that protesters cannot be held to account for breaking the law. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024 Another example was Thoreau’s infamous night in prison resulting from an act of civil disobedience against unjust laws, prefiguring Gandhian satyagraha, U.S. civil rights and labor strikes. Nathan Wolff, Washington Post, 13 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'satyagraha.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Sanskrit satyāgraha, from Sanskrit satya truth + āgraha persistence

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of satyagraha was in 1919

Dictionary Entries Near satyagraha

Cite this Entry

“Satyagraha.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/satyagraha. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.

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