civilized
adjective
civ·i·lized
ˈsi-və-ˌlīzd 
: characteristic of a state of civilization
civilized society
especially
: characterized by taste, refinement, or restraint
Synonyms
Examples of civilized in a Sentence
A civilized society must respond to crime with fairness and justice.
Stop yelling. We have to be more civilized about this.
Try to act like a civilized human being!
a civilized way to spend the evening
Recent Examples on the Web
Until recently, modern politics has been comparatively civilized thanks to determined reformers who established laws and institutions that reduced corruption and promoted democratic principles.
—
TIME, 14 May 2024
There’s also a secret clan of civilized humans who make contact with another group somewhere else in the world, thanks to the satellite key that Mae takes from the derelict bunker.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 May 2024
And because this is a civilized tournament, an R.S.V.P. is expected.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2024
Now, that is no way of running a democracy or a civilized society for that matter.
—Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2024
The United States is trying to prove to the people of the world of every nationality, race and color that a free democracy is the most civilized and most secure form of government yet devised by man.
—Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
The whole idea behind colonialism was this division into ‘civilized’ and ‘uncivilized’ people.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 19 Feb. 2024
And we’re trapped in a philosophical faceoff between those who argue that folks should be free to chart their own course without government intervention, and those who argue that civilized societies don’t allow sick and vulnerable people to live — and die — on public streets.
—Teri Sforza, Orange County Register, 28 Jan. 2024
If those people in that grief can disagree with each other but still sit and have a conversation in a civilized way, what is the excuse for the other 350 million of us not to be able to do that.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2024
TIME, 14 May 2024
There’s also a secret clan of civilized humans who make contact with another group somewhere else in the world, thanks to the satellite key that Mae takes from the derelict bunker.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 May 2024
And because this is a civilized tournament, an R.S.V.P. is expected.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2024
Now, that is no way of running a democracy or a civilized society for that matter.
—Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2024
The United States is trying to prove to the people of the world of every nationality, race and color that a free democracy is the most civilized and most secure form of government yet devised by man.
—Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
The whole idea behind colonialism was this division into ‘civilized’ and ‘uncivilized’ people.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 19 Feb. 2024
And we’re trapped in a philosophical faceoff between those who argue that folks should be free to chart their own course without government intervention, and those who argue that civilized societies don’t allow sick and vulnerable people to live — and die — on public streets.
—Teri Sforza, Orange County Register, 28 Jan. 2024
If those people in that grief can disagree with each other but still sit and have a conversation in a civilized way, what is the excuse for the other 350 million of us not to be able to do that.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'civilized.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near civilized
Cite this Entry
“Civilized.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civilized. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
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