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
In this moment of democratic backsliding, whistleblowers show that civil disobedience – breaking the law to uphold the public good – remains an essential principle of political and moral life.
—
Kate Kenny, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
The group has engaged in a number of public demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience outside the offices of major AI labs.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
Moscow Contemporary, an arts organization in Moscow, Idaho – a city of about 27,000 people — is planning two days of events, including a roundtable discussion on civil disobedience and an open mic night.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 21 Nov. 2025
An act of civil disobedience includes sitting on a public road to block traffic.
—Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil disobedience
Kate Kenny, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
The group has engaged in a number of public demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience outside the offices of major AI labs.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
Moscow Contemporary, an arts organization in Moscow, Idaho – a city of about 27,000 people — is planning two days of events, including a roundtable discussion on civil disobedience and an open mic night.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 21 Nov. 2025
An act of civil disobedience includes sitting on a public road to block traffic.
—Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil disobedience
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil disobedience
Noun
-
And, of course, boarding schools themselves can be immensely silly, dominated by boys’ pranks, rebellions, and mishaps.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Here are some notable uses of the Insurrection Act, usually to quell rebellions or in cases where local or state authorities were unable or unwilling to maintain order or uphold the Constitution.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That said, judicial defiance has been more pronounced in the lower courts.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Trump’s efforts to take over Greenland have been met with defiance from Nielsen, who said Monday Greenland will not be pressured.—
Mike Stunson,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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 21 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
