disobedience
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disobedience
Behavior in which one deliberately resists instructions, rules, or authorities. The opposite of obedience.
Der zivile Ungehorsam ist eine Form des politischen Protests.
Civil disobedience is a form of political protest.
The word is the direct opposite of 'der Gehorsam' (obedience). The prefix 'Un-' expresses negation. The meaning of 'Ungehorsam' (disobedience) is therefore easy to derive from its components.
Sein Ungehorsam gegenüber den Regeln führte zu Problemen.
His disobedience toward the rules led to problems.
A very important and fixed combination is 'ziviler Ungehorsam' (civil disobedience). This term refers to a form of nonviolent political protest in which laws are deliberately ignored.
Die Aktivisten riefen zum zivilen Ungehorsam auf.
The activists called for civil disobedience.
When you want to state the reason for an action, the preposition 'aus' is often used. The construction is then: 'etwas aus Ungehorsam tun' (to do something out of disobedience).
Das Kind aß das Gemüse nicht, und es tat dies aus reinem Ungehorsam.
The child did not eat the vegetables, and did so out of pure disobedience.
resistance
'der Widerstand' and 'der Ungehorsam' both have to do with someone not simply doing what is expected or demanded. 'der Ungehorsam' specifically means deliberately not following rules, orders, or instructions. This can happen, for example, with children, students, or employees. 'der Widerstand' is broader and often stronger: it can be political, personal, or actively directed against a measure. The words can be confused because disobedience can be a form of resistance. If it is mainly about rules, 'Ungehorsam' is more precise; if someone is resisting a power or decision, 'Widerstand' fits better.
Der Chef sieht das Zuspätkommen nicht als Fehler, sondern als klaren Ungehorsam.
The boss does not see being late as a mistake, but as clear disobedience.
Die Bewohner zeigen Widerstand gegen den Bau der neuen Straße.
The residents are showing resistance to the construction of the new road.