Meaning & use

passive resistance

noun·Academic

Opposition to authority or policy expressed through nonviolent means, such as refusal to cooperate, rather than direct conflict.

See it in a sentence

Gandhi's campaign of passive resistance helped lead India toward independence without armed rebellion.

The workers practiced passive resistance, quietly ignoring orders instead of striking outright.

A note on using this word

Distinguishes deliberate, principled noncooperation from ordinary laziness or simple disobedience.

Words with a similar meaning

civil disobedience

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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