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
This school year, Berkeley struggled with how to handle civil disobedience over the Israel-Hamas war.
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Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 6 June 2024
In recent months, several colleges have disciplined pro-Palestinian activists for ordinary speech acts and mobilized force against their acts of civil disobedience.
—Eric Levitz, Vox, 15 May 2024
Nonviolent civil disobedience, throughout American history, has demonstrably been the most effective tool through which minds are changed.
—Gregory Meeks, New York Daily News, 8 May 2024
Today in history On this day in 1922, Mohandas K. Gandhi was sentenced in India to six years’ imprisonment for civil disobedience.
—The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for civil disobedience 
Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 6 June 2024
In recent months, several colleges have disciplined pro-Palestinian activists for ordinary speech acts and mobilized force against their acts of civil disobedience.
—Eric Levitz, Vox, 15 May 2024
Nonviolent civil disobedience, throughout American history, has demonstrably been the most effective tool through which minds are changed.
—Gregory Meeks, New York Daily News, 8 May 2024
Today in history On this day in 1922, Mohandas K. Gandhi was sentenced in India to six years’ imprisonment for civil disobedience.
—The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for civil disobedience
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil disobedience
Noun
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Kim was arrested by prosecutors early Wednesday on allegations of playing a key role in a rebellion and committing abuse of power.Kim Tong-Hyung and Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
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In 1994: Russian tanks and troops invaded its largely Muslim territory Chechnya to try to quash the secessionist rebellion after a three-year push for independence that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union.Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This subtle yet revolutionary approach reflects the film’s core message: change begins with the smallest of actions, and these quiet acts of defiance can ripple outward to create a more liberated future.Taarini Kaur Dang, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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One of the most glaring moments of defiance came in January 2022, when both maverick senators voted against a Democratic proposal to carve out the Senate’s filibuster rule to pass voting rights legislation.Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Women have also developed other forms of gendered noncooperation that can benefit mass movements.Erica Chenoweth, Foreign Affairs, 8 Feb. 2022
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Women have pioneered other forms of social noncooperation, as well.Erica Chenoweth, Foreign Affairs, 8 Feb. 2022
Thesaurus Entries Near civil disobedience
Cite this Entry
“Civil disobedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil%20disobedience. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
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