civil unrest
Widespread societal upheaval
Civil unrest is public disturbance involving protests, riots, or other forms of collective disorder.
The term covers everything from peaceful demonstrations that turn violent to widespread rioting and looting: The verdict sparked civil unrest across multiple cities.
Governments may impose curfews or deploy security forces in response.
The phrase is often used by authorities and media as a neutral-sounding alternative to more specific terms like riot or uprising.
Defiance of established power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
overthrow · insurgency · mutiny · sedition · resistance · guerrilla · militants · insurgents
Violent public disturbance
- lootingTheft during disorder
- vandalismWillful property damage
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
- mayhemViolent disorder and destruction
lawlessness · clashes · disturbance · turmoil · disruption · arson · curfew · pandemonium
Public display of opinion
- rallyGathering for a cause
- marchRhythmic group walk
- activismDirect effort for reform
- picketingOrganized protest outside workplace
sit-in · boycott · petition · placards · chanting · vigil · disobedience · grassroots
Sudden strict enforcement
- martial lawArmed forces governance
- curfewMandated return time
- riot policeOfficers deployed for civil unrest
- detentionTemporary official holding
censorship · surveillance · repression · dispersal · arrests · state of emergency · military deployment · blackout
rebellion
Defiance of established power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
coup · overthrow · insurgency · mutiny · sedition · resistance · guerrilla · militants · insurgents · barricades
rioting
Violent public disturbance
mayhem · lawlessness · clashes · disturbance · turmoil · disruption · arson · curfew · pandemonium · bedlam
demonstration
Public display of opinion
picketing · sit-in · boycott · petition · placards · chanting · vigil · disobedience · grassroots · solidarity
crackdown
Sudden strict enforcement
- martial lawArmed forces governance
- curfewMandated return time
- riot policeOfficers deployed for civil unrest
detention · censorship · surveillance · repression · dispersal · arrests · state of emergency · military deployment · blackout · propaganda
- conflictsargument, fight, war, battle, dispute
- global issuesclimate change, water scarcity, inequality, pandemics, poverty
- urban hazardspotholes, crime, traffic, accidents, sinkholes
- PakistanIslamabad, Karachi, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan
- Arab SpringTahrir Square, uprising, Mubarak, demonstrations, protesters
- lawlessnessanarchy, chaos, disorder, lawbreaking, crime
civil unrestpeace
Freedom from disturbance
stability · civil order · social order · public order · tranquility
civil unrestcompliance
Adhering to requirements
acquiescence · social conformity · complacency · docility · political apathy
civil unrestlaw and order
Governance through enforced rules
martial law · authoritarian control · state control · repression · police state
civil, restless, unrest, civic, civilian, civilized, restlessness, civilization, uncivil