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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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 On Tuesday, Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham made an effort to calm community fears issuing a statement letting people know his city’s police will not cooperate with ICE in civil immigration enforcement, as mandated by the Illinois Trust Act. Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025 The modules are designed for underground installation, which minimizes their physical footprint and the associated civil engineering work. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025 In 1962, when federal judicial statistics became reliable enough to track the trend, juries decided about 6% of civil cases; today that share is less then 1%. Richard Lorren Jolly, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025 Jury duty is a civil obligation, and many of us will be called to serve at least once in our lives. Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for civil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil
Adjective
  • Former Biden National Security Council official Tarun Chhabra now leads its national security policy, while former White House economic aide Elizabeth Kelly serves as head of beneficial deployments.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Goalkeeping coach Ian Willcock, who has been with United since their inception in 2018, left for the Canada national team, reuniting with former United manager Casey Stoney.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • These polite pleasantries waste precious attention.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Maikol Gabriel López Lizano was two years older than Acosta Peña, warm and polite.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Percussion and a choir imbued the ballad with a pulse, and the gracious Warren quickly turned to clap for the singers at song’s end.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The 63-year-old chef helms the kitchen at Vila Joya—the restaurant of a gracious boutique hotel in Portugal that shares its name—which earned one Michelin star in 1995 and a second in 1999.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Civil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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