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
An act of civil disobedience includes sitting on a public road to block traffic.
—
Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Advertisement For that reason, collegiate sanctions for mild acts of civil disobedience may sometimes be relatively light—probation or a formal warning, for example, rather than suspension or expulsion.
—Christopher L. Eisgruber, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Both were arrested and charged with civil disobedience during the 2003-2004 grocery strike and lockout in California, and again in 2008 when El Super inherited problematic labor contracts from Gigante when stores in the region were acquired.
—Pat Maio, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
Graffitiing the church over its support of the state of Israel is not civil disobedience, Whelchel said.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil disobedience
Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Advertisement For that reason, collegiate sanctions for mild acts of civil disobedience may sometimes be relatively light—probation or a formal warning, for example, rather than suspension or expulsion.
—Christopher L. Eisgruber, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Both were arrested and charged with civil disobedience during the 2003-2004 grocery strike and lockout in California, and again in 2008 when El Super inherited problematic labor contracts from Gigante when stores in the region were acquired.
—Pat Maio, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025
Graffitiing the church over its support of the state of Israel is not civil disobedience, Whelchel said.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil disobedience
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil disobedience
Noun
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While details of Gatwa’s character are not yet known, Erivo’s Jayne is described as a trailblazing fairy whose defiant streak sparks a rebellion.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
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From its beginning, the leaders of the rebellion well understood the global reach and resonance of their great struggle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Overnight, a show of defiance inside Venezuela from Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello Rondón, who posted a video to social media making his allegiances clear.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
7 Jan. 2026
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During her own allocution moments later, Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, likewise struck a note of defiance and introduced herself as the First Lady of Venezuela, her face appearing bruised and bandaged.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Nevertheless, some common, noncooperation policies have existed in a handful of places, including Charlotte, where the police don't help with immigration enforcement.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Nov. 2025
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Some might argue that for middle America conditions are not yet painful enough, socially or economically, to inspire sustained noncooperation.—
Michael Shank,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Civil disobedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil%20disobedience. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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