Synonyms of civil

civil

adjective

ˈsi-vəl 

1

as in national

of or relating to a nation

the country was not destroyed by outside enemies but by a series of civil wars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• national
• public
• federal
• municipal
• civic
• governmental
• democratic
• internal
• government
• domestic
• republican
• nationwide
• intestine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• international
• global
• foreign
• nonnational
• external
• alien

2

as in polite

showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners

please try to be civil to your ex-husband at the upcoming family wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• polite
• gracious
• respectful
• thoughtful
• careful
• courteous
• nice
• civilized
• genteel
• friendly
• respectable
• pleasant
• gallant
• graceful
• ceremonial
• mannerly
• elegant
• well-bred
• good
• appropriate
• formal
• chivalrous
• attentive
• gentlemanly
• humble
• acceptable
• solicitous
• smooth
• considerate
• ceremonious
• decent
• proper
• suitable
• meek
• urbane
• ladylike
• decorous
• courtly
• correct
• hospitable
• deferential
• suave
• dutiful
• fitting
• cordial
• right
• submissive
• genial
• unctuous
• sociable
• gentlemanlike
• meet
• becoming
• refined
• red-carpet
• fit
• affable
• modest
• felicitous
• yielding
• couth
• befitting
• seemly
• demure
• unassertive
• comme il faut

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uncivil
• thoughtless
• rude
• discourteous
• ungracious
• thoughtless
• impolite
• inconsiderate
• unmannerly
• heedless
• disrespectful
• insolent
• inconsiderate
• informal
• impudent
• bold
• impertinent
• casual
• shameless
• saucy
• vulgar
• brash
• brassy
• audacious
• boorish
• unmannered
• uncouth
• improper
• ungenteel
• clownish
• churlish
• ill-mannered
• loutish
• inappropriate
• mannerless
• indecent
• ill-bred
• incorrect
• unseemly
• arrogant
• indecorous
• unceremonious
• uncalled-for
• lippy
• pretentious
• presumptuous
• bold-faced
• clodhopping
• conceited
• unrespectable
• presuming

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective civil contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of civil are chivalrous, courteous, gallant, and polite. While all these words mean "observant of the forms required by good breeding," civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness.

owed the questioner a civil reply

In what contexts can chivalrous take the place of civil?

In some situations, the words chivalrous and civil are roughly equivalent. However, chivalrous suggests high-minded and self-sacrificing behavior.

a chivalrous display of duty

When is it sensible to use courteous instead of civil?

The words courteous and civil are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, courteous implies more actively considerate or dignified politeness.

clerks who were unfailingly courteous to customers

How do gallant and chivalrous relate to one another, in the sense of civil?

Both gallant and chivalrous imply courteous attentiveness especially to women. Gallant suggests spirited and dashing behavior and ornate expressions of courtesy.

a gallant suitor of the old school

When can polite be used instead of civil?

The words polite and civil can be used in similar contexts, but polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality.

if you can't be pleasant, at least be polite

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of civil

About four months before Markel’s death, Markel filed a motion in civil court to bar Donna Adelson from having unsupervised visits with her grandsons. —Lauren Del Valle, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025

While the documentary is being released just over three months after Smollett and the city of Chicago reached a civil settlement, Smollett spends much of his interview segments defending himself and maintaining his innocence. —Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025

The documentation to defend against civil claims for damages following IT failures is of similar relevance. —Dennis-Kenji Kipker, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

Republicans have threatened missing Democrats with civil arrest. —Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Aug. 2025

Phrases Containing civil

• civil disobedience
• civil servant
• civil war