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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There are no major qualifications, but members of Congress and certain other office-holders are barred from participating, along with anyone who has engaged in insurrection or rebellion.Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2024
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Sofia’s haircut is an early sign of her rebellion; a shaggy mullet that calls back to Jane Fonda in the 1970s thriller Klute.Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The federal government has claimed sole jurisdiction to enforce immigration laws, so the enforcement provisions in Proposition 314 are in open defiance of the federal government.Rafael Carranza, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
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Although security forces violently ended the protests, since Amini’s death Iranian women and girls have at times removed their headscarves in public in defiance, and others around the world have joined in solidarity.Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 4 Nov. 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 28 Nov. 2024.
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