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 Gates and Medical Diagnostic Choices were found liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and fraud in the civil lawsuit in March 2024. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 21 June 2025 The text messages were largely between Baldoni, his publicist Jennifer Abel and crisis management expert Melissa Nathan, and were obtained through a civil subpoena, Lively's complaint said. Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025 Age verification for pornographic websites Texas enacted a law in 2023 that requires pornography websites to confirm that visitors are at least 18 years old or face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day. Melissa Quinn june 9, CBS News, 9 June 2025 Los Angeles County maintains sanctuary policies, with local law enforcement refusing to participate in civil immigration enforcement. Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for civil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil
Adjective
  • Bednarek ran a personal best (19.68) for silver, but De Grasse set a national record (19.62).
    Liam Tharme, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • Yes, Brigham Young had a terrific season; Gonzaga remains highly relevant on the national scene; and San Diego State has performed well in March over the years.
    Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • There’s a difference between being polite and being passive.
    Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • Fittingly, a green laser shined out into the crowd as attendees turned from polite listeners to a rowdy mosh pit, singing every word.
    Ellise Shafer, Variety, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • For some science, the discoveries will be limited by whatever the sky is gracious enough to give—a star must explode for the Rubin Observatory to spot a new supernova, for example.
    Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 1 July 2025
  • Miss Manners is certain that your heartfelt gratitude, in the form of a gracious and appreciative handwritten letter, will be thanks enough.
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Civil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

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