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direct action
noun
: action that seeks to achieve an end directly and by the most immediately effective means (such as a boycott or strike)
Examples of direct action in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The new due diligence requirements apply not only to the direct actions of the company, but also to their subsidiaries and supply chain.
—Jon McGowan, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
A week after the Cop City march in Atlanta, a group called Palestine Action, whose U.S. branch Chambers helped found after Oct. 7, staged a direct action at an office of Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense contractor, in Merrimack, New Hampshire.
—David Peisner, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2024
The Colorado Supreme Court based its disqualification decision on the substantial evidence in the record, which supported the factual findings that Trump not only incited but also engaged in the Jan. 6 insurrection and took other direct actions to prevent the peaceful transfer of power.
—Doug Friednash, The Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2024
Some faiths proscribe taking direct action that could cause the death of the unborn child or the mother.
—Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Last year, an executive order was issued highlighting direct actions the Biden administration is going to take to support caregivers.
—USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024
Anyone who says, after seeing his recent Indiana Jones fifth-quel, that Mangold can’t direct action should look here.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 21 Jan. 2024
The nonprofit provides support through strategic communications and direct action to preserve Native sacred lands.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 4 Jan. 2024
Fans labelled the orcas’ behavior as anti-colonial protest or anti-capitalist direct action, and pledged solidarity with the ocean’s saboteurs.
—Rachel Riederer, The New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'direct action.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1912, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near direct action
Cite this Entry
“Direct action.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/direct%20action. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Legal Definition
direct action
noun1
: an action in which the plaintiff sues a person's insurer without first obtaining a judgment against the insured or joining the insured
2
: a suit by a shareholder for an injury to himself or herself independent from any injury to the corporation
called also individual action
compare derivative actionMore from Merriam-Webster on direct action
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about direct action
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