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direct action
noun
: action that seeks to achieve an end directly and by the most immediately effective means (such as a boycott or strike)
Examples of direct action in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Characteristic of the fascinating but lesser-known figures from this era of Black female activism is Mary Ann Shadd Cary, a schoolteacher in Washington, D.C., who took direct action by joining white women in attempting to register to vote in 1871.
—Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2020
Activists have used fights over investments, curriculums and development projects as platforms for radical politics and for a kind of revolutionary experimentation in the form of building occupations and other direct actions.
—Charles Homans Gabra Zackman Anna Diamond Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 29 May 2024
If there were evidence of that, that would - that would lead to direct action.
—CBS News, 26 May 2024
Minus proof of direct action or provocative words, how can an organizer of a protest be responsible for the irresponsible actions of someone in a large crowd?
—Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 23 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for direct action
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'direct action.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1912, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near direct action
Cite this Entry
“Direct action.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/direct%20action. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Legal Definition
direct action
noun1
: an action in which the plaintiff sues a person's insurer without first obtaining a judgment against the insured or joining the insured
2
: a suit by a shareholder for an injury to himself or herself independent from any injury to the corporation
called also individual action
compare derivative actionMore from Merriam-Webster on direct action
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about direct action
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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