civil disobedience
noun
: refusal to obey governmental demands or commands especially as a nonviolent and usually collective means of forcing concessions from the government
Examples of civil disobedience in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
An act of civil disobedience includes sitting on a public road to block traffic.
—
Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2025
Peaceful protests erupted nationally, government workers launched a civil disobedience movement, and millions of students boycotted school.
—Emily Fishbein, Hpan Ja Brang, The Dial, 17 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for civil disobedience
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Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2025
Peaceful protests erupted nationally, government workers launched a civil disobedience movement, and millions of students boycotted school.
—Emily Fishbein, Hpan Ja Brang, The Dial, 17 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for civil disobedience
Cite this Entry
“Civil disobedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20disobedience. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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