Thesaurus

civil

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of civil

1 of or relating to a nation

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

Synonyms of civil

national, public

Words Related to civil

civic, federal, municipal

government, governmental

domestic, internal, intestine

democratic, republican

Near Antonyms of civil

global, international

alien, external, foreign

Antonyms of civil

2 showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners

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

Synonyms of civil

courteous, genteel, gracious, mannerly, polite, well-bred

Words Related to civil

attentive, careful, considerate, nice, solicitous, thoughtful

chivalrous, civilized, courtly, gallant, gentlemanlike, gentlemanly, ladylike

ceremonial, ceremonious, red-carpet

couth, formal, smooth, suave, unctuous, urbane

elegant, refined

deferential, dutiful, respectful, submissive, yielding

acceptable, appropriate, becoming, befitting, comme il faut, correct, decent, decorous, fit, fitting, good, meet, proper, respectable, right, seemly, suitable

affable, cordial, friendly, genial, hospitable, pleasant, sociable

felicitous, graceful

demure, humble, meek, modest, unassertive

Near Antonyms of civil

heedless, inconsiderate, thoughtless

audacious, bold, bold-faced, brash, brassy, disrespectful, impertinent, impudent, insolent, lippy, saucy, shameless

boorish, churlish, clodhopping, clownish, loutish, uncouth, vulgar

casual, informal, unceremonious

improper, inappropriate, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, uncalled-for, unrespectable, unseemly

arrogant, conceited, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious

Antonyms of civil

discourteous, ill-bred, ill-mannered, impolite, inconsiderate, mannerless, rude, thoughtless, uncivil, ungenteel, ungracious, unmannered, unmannerly

Synonym Discussion of civil

civil, polite, courteous, gallant, chivalrous 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

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

courteous implies more actively considerate or dignified politeness.

- clerks who were unfailingly courteous to customers

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

chivalrous suggests high-minded and self-sacrificing behavior.

- a chivalrous display of duty

Learn More about civil

See words that rhyme with civil Dictionary: Definition of civil Spanish Central: Translation of civil Nglish: Translation of civil for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of civil for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up civil? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

tchotchke

a knickknack or trinket

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games