as in rebellion
refusal to obey laws as a way of forcing the government to do or change something
In an act of civil disobedience, the family sent its tax money to an antiwar organization. A student organization is encouraging civil disobedience as a way to get the university to change its policies.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of civil disobedience
Saturday’s demonstration was organized by a group called Defend Our Juries, which called for people to attend the protest with signs expressing support for Palestine Action in a demonstration of civil disobedience.
—
Richard Hall, Time, 9 Aug. 2025
With every new wave of protest, every strike, and every act of civil disobedience, the regime's response is not reform, but repression.
—Tom Ridge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
That act of civil disobedience led to her disbarment, said her brother, Steve Ward of St. Paul’s East Side.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 19 July 2025
Protests — even ones that include civil disobedience — should not be met with violence unless there is no other option available.
—Dan Tully, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil disobedience
Richard Hall, Time, 9 Aug. 2025
With every new wave of protest, every strike, and every act of civil disobedience, the regime's response is not reform, but repression.
—Tom Ridge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
That act of civil disobedience led to her disbarment, said her brother, Steve Ward of St. Paul’s East Side.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 19 July 2025
Protests — even ones that include civil disobedience — should not be met with violence unless there is no other option available.
—Dan Tully, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil disobedience
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil disobedience
Noun
-
When the series begins, in 1868, Ireland is under British rule — but a group known as the Fenians leads a rebellion for independence.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
-
These motifs carry layered meanings, shifting from innocence to rebellion.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Minnesota passed on Rodgers at the time, almost to signal a vote of defiance or confidence in McCarthy.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
In recent months, some council members have pushed, in open defiance, for outside groups to take another look, on the city’s behalf, at the economics of moving out of the Civic Center complex.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While declarations have been made in the past regarding our city having a sanctuary status, there have been no clear directives toward local law enforcement regarding noncooperation with federal agencies such as ICE.—
Scott Wartman,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
-
These movements used many different tools at their disposal — lawsuits, mass rallies, strikes, work slowdowns, boycotts and other forms of noncooperation and resistance.—
David Brooks,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Civil disobedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil%20disobedience. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share