civilized
adjective
civ·i·lized
ˈsi-və-ˌlīzd 
: characteristic of a state of civilization
civilized society
especially
: characterized by taste, refinement, or restraint
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
First-generation Vipers (1991 through 2002) grew marginally more civilized over a decade, but the original cars were essentially rag-top roadsters in the hair-shirt tradition of the Shelby Cobra.
—
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025
The Gauls had been described as barbarians by Julius Caesar and Livy, but now had become these Ur people, far more ancient and civilized than their ancient Roman detractors.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
Instead, Moon, high on ayahuasca, crashes a plane into their territory, effectively disappearing himself from civilized society.
—Maggie Doherty, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
What had begun as a highly civilized event began to morph, in small ways, into the roots of Woodstock.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civilized
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Robert Ross, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025
The Gauls had been described as barbarians by Julius Caesar and Livy, but now had become these Ur people, far more ancient and civilized than their ancient Roman detractors.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
Instead, Moon, high on ayahuasca, crashes a plane into their territory, effectively disappearing himself from civilized society.
—Maggie Doherty, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
What had begun as a highly civilized event began to morph, in small ways, into the roots of Woodstock.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civilized
Cite this Entry
“Civilized.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civilized. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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