CIVILIAN Synonyms: 24 Similar and Opposite Words

civilian 1 of 2

noun

Definition of civilian

as in noncombatant

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noncombatant

Dissimilar Words

civilian

2 of 2

adjective

as in civil

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Dissimilar Words

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 civilian

Noun

Two government employees and one civilian suffered minor injuries, according to the FBI. — ABC News, 21 July 2026 Two government employees and one civilian, an immigrant who had a hearing that day, were injured, Barnacle said. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 21 July 2026

Adjective

About 63,500 licensed civilian firearms were reported lost or stolen between 2013 and 2023, according to figures Rademeyer cited. — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 If civilian use of wireless technologies is exploding, military applications are also rising, and everything from drones to armored vehicles is now part of the larger set of attack units. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for civilian

Recent Examples of Synonyms for civilian

Noun

He wouldn’t be permitted to remain a noncombatant for very long.

— Matthew Campbell, Bloomberg, 22 May 2026
Without going into detail, both treat war as the option of last resort, both try to limit reckless destruction of life and property and both try to minimize injury to noncombatants.

— Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026

Definition of noncombatant

Adjective

He was found guilty in a subsequent civil trial, yet still awarded custody of the divorced couple’s two children.

— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Chinese authorities have tightened their grip on the media, the legal profession, and civil society, limiting the space for Chinese citizens to discuss mounting social woes and extinguishing emerging calls for deeper political reform.

— Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of civil

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“Civilian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civilian. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of civilian

noun

adjective

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