CIVILIZED Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

civilized 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsi-və-ˌlīzd

Definition of civilized

as in cultured

having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living a civilized older couple who are celebrated for holding dinner parties that are attended by the city's best and brightest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

civilized

2 of 2

verb

past tense of civilize

as in cultivated

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of civilized

Adjective

Today, however, after decades of angry seatbelt alarms and parking sensor shrieks, a polite musical chime almost seems civilized. — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 In Season 3, the team enters Dinopia, a civilized dinosaur world, to face threats endangering both worlds through friendship, courage, and teamwork. — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 24 June 2026 Her generation was one of thinkers, politically committed to defining how individuals were to be shaped as citizens of a civilized nation. — Literary Hub, 1 July 2026 The chaos in Ithaca may be political and ethical—a violation of custom—but stretches of the poem are barbarous and wild, beyond civilized life altogether. — David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for civilized

Recent Examples of Synonyms for civilized

Adjective

Some butter is cultured by adding lactic acid bacteria.

— Rosemary Trout, Scientific American, 27 June 2026
Clean Cultured Marble These same cleaning supplies and methods can be used to clean cultured marble bathroom vanity tops and sinks.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 June 2026

Definition of cultured

Verb

But the star has cultivated a loyal collective of her favorite brands, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Stella McCartney and Area (recall her famous Super Bowl jeans).

— Morgan Evans, USA Today, 4 July 2026
The one-person filmmaker averages 3 million views per episode and has cultivated a YouTube audience of 500,000.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

Definition of cultivated

Adjective

The installation was conceived by Imogen Speer, an accomplished San Francisco artist whose public work includes the Naga installation in Golden Gate Park.

— Lisa Curtis, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished international players, Valdemoro made her mark in the WNBA.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 June 2026

Definition of accomplished

Browse Nearby Words

civilize

civilized

civilizes

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Civilized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civilized. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of civilized

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on civilized

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes