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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of civil disobedience
The highlight of this initiative is the live broadcast of this act of civil disobedience, allowing festival-goers to witness and potentially participate in the protest.
—
Jamie Lang, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
Even after Trump lost in 2020, Antifa continued its growth, buttressing the Black Lives Matter movement and resorting to civil disobedience and property damage to protest law enforcement’s treatment of people of color.
—Will Carless, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2025
Those caught up in these acts of civil disobedience are subject to being placed in restrictive housing for weeks or months, losing good time and likely being moved to another facility.
—Walter Pavlo, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Lewis was among those protesting at Woolworth’s in 1960 and received his first arrest for civil disobedience after being assaulted by customers.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for civil disobedience 
Jamie Lang, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
Even after Trump lost in 2020, Antifa continued its growth, buttressing the Black Lives Matter movement and resorting to civil disobedience and property damage to protest law enforcement’s treatment of people of color.
—Will Carless, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2025
Those caught up in these acts of civil disobedience are subject to being placed in restrictive housing for weeks or months, losing good time and likely being moved to another facility.
—Walter Pavlo, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Lewis was among those protesting at Woolworth’s in 1960 and received his first arrest for civil disobedience after being assaulted by customers.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for civil disobedience
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil disobedience
Noun
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Flowy gowns, and darker hues of usually vibrant shades are used possibly to convey the love, despair, rebellion, and individualism the designer mentioned in his show notes.—
Kerane Marcellus,
Essence,
13 Feb. 2025
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The first is Hotspur’s — poor, reckless lionheart, unlucky enough to be born on the wrong side of the rebellion.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The city was forced to padlock the doors in the face of such defiance of rules and regulations.—
Siobhan McLaughlin,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2025
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Silicon Valley Workers Quietly Protest: As Mark Zuckerberg and other tech titans have embraced President Trump and muffled internal dissent at their companies, their mostly left-leaning employees have objected with subtle acts of defiance.—
Mike Isaac,
New York Times,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Each campus should follow state law and guidelines regarding noncooperation with ICE and/or other federal entities.—
Isidro Ortiz,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Feb. 2025
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In addition, state-level politicians, including attorneys general and governors, have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to challenge federal overreach through litigation and noncooperation.—
Victor Menaldo,
The Conversation,
16 Jan. 2025
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 22 Feb. 2025.
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