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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Examples of civil disobedience in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Today in history On this day in 1922, Mohandas K. Gandhi was sentenced in India to six years’ imprisonment for civil disobedience.
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The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024
The attacks could also have been an act of civil disobedience.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 27 July 2024
But this seemingly routine ride turned into a pivotal moment when Saxon refused to move to the back of the segregated interstate bus—a full four years before Rosa Parks’ similar but far more famous act of civil disobedience.
—Taryn White, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 July 2024
Thinking Ethical hacking: saving society with computer code As a form of civil disobedience, hacking can help make the world a better place.
—Big Think, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for civil disobedience 
The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024
The attacks could also have been an act of civil disobedience.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 27 July 2024
But this seemingly routine ride turned into a pivotal moment when Saxon refused to move to the back of the segregated interstate bus—a full four years before Rosa Parks’ similar but far more famous act of civil disobedience.
—Taryn White, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 July 2024
Thinking Ethical hacking: saving society with computer code As a form of civil disobedience, hacking can help make the world a better place.
—Big Think, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for civil disobedience
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'civil disobedience.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Civil disobedience.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil%20disobedience. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.
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