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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

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 civil Those were the two main topics on the table with the premiere’s guests, former Vice President Mike Pence and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, two former colleagues in the House of Representatives, as host Dasha Burns sought to highlight civil conversation. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025 The suit includes a mix of civil and criminal allegations, and Alvey can only rule on the civil claims whilst handling a case that’s filed as civil. Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2025 At least seven people were killed in the quakes, civil defence official Ednar Dayanghirang said. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025 There are many remarkable aspects to Trump’s decision to escalate his fight against large swaths of America, not least of which is that it is all based on the lie that there is anything approaching war-like levels of civil unrest in the cities he’s targeted. Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for civil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil
Adjective
  • Lee was in attendance in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a national holiday.
    Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Also missing for Miami due to national team duty were Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina), Noah Allen (Greece U21), Telasco Segovia (Venezuela), and Ian Fray (Jamaica).
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Here are six seemingly polite habits that party hosts actually dislike.
    Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The younger woman smiling coyly, as if with a secret, while the older of the two, still young herself, anxious and polite, looks at the strange columns in the kitchen, trying not to be rude about it.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The comments section quickly sided with the gracious host.
    Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The influencer was gracious about her departure, though.
    Lynette Rice, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Civil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

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