Thesaurus results for URBANIZE

urbanize

verb

ˈər-bə-ˌnīz

Definition of urbanize

as in to civilize

to accustom to the ways of the city every September the city of Boston urbanizes a new crop of college students from small towns across the country

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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of urbanize As cities urbanize and increase in density, more buildings and underground utilities become spaces for rats, and more food becomes available for rodents to eat. — Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025 Many cities have pushed back, arguing that so many more homes will more rapidly urbanize their suburban communities. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2024 When Margarita Lugo de Castillo first started selling food from an outdoor stall here in 1945, this area had just begun to urbanize. — Jorge Valencia Mariano Fernandez, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023 But more Chinese people are frequently swapping soup and noodle dishes for salads and sandwiches as the country urbanizes and growing numbers find employment in the private sector. — Lyric Li, Washington Post, 21 June 2023 See All Example Sentences for urbanize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for urbanize

civilize

Verb

Stephens never plays a mustache-twirling sadist, instead carrying himself with the unbearable confidence of a man truly convinced that his version of abuse and even murder is civilized.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Over time, these ideas became part of a broader moral justification for European imperial expansion, framing colonial rule as a civilizing mission.

— Anna Piela, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026

Definition of civilize

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urbanity

urbanize

urbanized

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“Urbanize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/urbanize. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of urbanize

verb

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