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.
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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.
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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
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The state argued incidents that arose from the ICE facility protests in recent months have been handled by local law enforcement and have not been severe enough to be considered a riot or rebellion.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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Her choice challenges the rules of her world and sparks a rebellion that paves the way for a new way of life.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Flattering, placating, and kowtowing only seem to spark escalating demands while defiance risks retaliation.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
4 Oct. 2025
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Saturday’s look aligned her with a brand known for its romantic defiance.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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
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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 8 Oct. 2025.
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