Definition

1. Noun:
   • A form of protest or political action: "Direct action" refers to a method of achieving political or social goals through immediate, often confrontational, activities, such as strikes, blockades, or occupations, rather than through negotiation or conventional political processes.
   • Action taken to achieve demands: It specifically denotes action undertaken by a group, such as labor unions or activists, to directly obtain their demands, bypassing intermediary steps like arbitration or legislation.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The union leaders argued that direct action, such as a strike, was necessary to force the company back to the negotiating table.
  • Environmental groups are planning a series of direct actions to protest the new pipeline construction.
  • The movement's strategy relies on direct action to draw public attention to the issue.

Advanced Usage

• "To take direct action": This phrase is commonly used to describe the act of engaging in such protest activities.
  • The community decided to take direct action by occupying the vacant lot to prevent its development.

Variants and Related Words

• Direct activism (n): A broader term for activism that involves hands-on, confrontational methods.
  • Her work in direct activism often leads to arrests.
• Civil disobedience (n): A specific, nonviolent form of direct action that involves intentionally breaking a law considered unjust.
  • The sit-in was an act of civil disobedience.

Synonyms

• Protest action: An action taken to express strong objection.
• Confrontational tactics: Strategies that involve direct challenge or opposition.

Related Phrases

• Nonviolent direct action: A subset of direct action that explicitly avoids physical violence, emphasizing tactics like sit-ins, boycotts, and blockades.
  • The campaign was built on principles of nonviolent direct action.

Noun

1. a protest action by labor or minority groups to obtain their demands