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
Sanabria Tarazona had taken part in a nationwide civil disobedience aimed at ousting Maduro called La Salida or The Exit.
—
Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 17 June 2025
After all, states can and will punish civil disobedience.
—Ryan Lucas, NPR, 9 Mar. 2025
His fellow Jesuit, Dolores Mission pastor Brendan Busse, was there with activists during a June 9 migra raid at a factory in the Garment District that saw SEIU California president David Huerta arrested for civil disobedience.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
In practice, that means some borrowers working at nonprofits focused on immigration rights, civil disobedience advocacy, climate action, or other causes could find their employment disqualified from PSLF.
—Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil disobedience
Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 17 June 2025
After all, states can and will punish civil disobedience.
—Ryan Lucas, NPR, 9 Mar. 2025
His fellow Jesuit, Dolores Mission pastor Brendan Busse, was there with activists during a June 9 migra raid at a factory in the Garment District that saw SEIU California president David Huerta arrested for civil disobedience.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
In practice, that means some borrowers working at nonprofits focused on immigration rights, civil disobedience advocacy, climate action, or other causes could find their employment disqualified from PSLF.
—Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil disobedience
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil disobedience
Noun
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Those early bands played a range of styles, though, in a touch of rebellion, stayed away from country at first.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
1 Aug. 2025
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Ichiro, Madonna, Elvis: think about how each of them is somehow, simultaneously, impossibly, an avatar of both absolute conformity and absolute rebellion.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
27 July 2025
Noun
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For many women, something as simple as buying a bikini becomes an act of defiance.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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When his latest work is once again denied permission by the Ministry of Culture, the censorship pushes him to the edge of defiance.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
25 July 2025
Noun
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While declarations have been made in the past regarding our city having a sanctuary status, there have been no clear directives toward local law enforcement regarding noncooperation with federal agencies such as ICE.—
Scott Wartman,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
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These movements used many different tools at their disposal — lawsuits, mass rallies, strikes, work slowdowns, boycotts and other forms of noncooperation and resistance.—
David Brooks,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Civil disobedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil%20disobedience. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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