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
Third Act is encouraging participants to bring signs, chant, and engage in peaceful civil disobedience.
—
Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
The military junta that has led the country since a 2021 coup has cracked down on doctors and nurses, who have been at the forefront of a nationwide civil disobedience movement that has opposed the regime.
—Sui-Lee Wee, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Open letters about the 2016 election and civil disobedience.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2025
Instead of lobbying Congress or engaging in large acts of civil disobedience, different forms of resistance are being spotlighted.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil disobedience
Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
The military junta that has led the country since a 2021 coup has cracked down on doctors and nurses, who have been at the forefront of a nationwide civil disobedience movement that has opposed the regime.
—Sui-Lee Wee, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Open letters about the 2016 election and civil disobedience.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2025
Instead of lobbying Congress or engaging in large acts of civil disobedience, different forms of resistance are being spotlighted.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil disobedience
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil disobedience
Noun
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The third season opens in the wake of the deadly rebellion depicted in the Season 2 finale, which left Jung-Bae and many of Gi-hun’s allies dead.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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The law allows a president to federalize state National Guard troops under three conditions: in the event of an invasion, a rebellion or threat of rebellion, or when regular federal forces are unable to enforce the law.—
Martha McHardy
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Noun
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Four years later, an America-first cultural crackdown has freed the Met to cast off the hair shirt of reckoning and celebrate its diverse holdings in a spirit of defiance.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
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Small acts of defiance are happening in real life, too.—
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
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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
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Each campus should follow state law and guidelines regarding noncooperation with ICE and/or other federal entities.—
Isidro Ortiz,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Civil disobedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil%20disobedience. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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