1
as in courtesy
an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners
after the usual civilities, the parents and the principal had a serious talk about the boy
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in manners
speech or behavior that is a sign of good breeding
treated people from all walks of life with the same unfailing civility
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of civility
After a career defined by playing gangsters, an avenging taxi driver and a paranoid prize fighter, Robert De Niro will be issuing a call for civility, as first spoken by Abraham Lincoln.
—
ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
That our divorce, though managed with comparative civility, caused our daughter abiding pain hardened my resolve to cap my output at one.
—Daniel Smith, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Kuper suggests that, where English hooliganism represents a grotesque form of nostalgia, postwar Japanese civility is a pose predicated on collective amnesia about wartime atrocities.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
The role of any newspaper, especially one with the long and proud legacy of The Sun, is not to smooth over uncomfortable realities in the name of civility.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civility
ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
That our divorce, though managed with comparative civility, caused our daughter abiding pain hardened my resolve to cap my output at one.
—Daniel Smith, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Kuper suggests that, where English hooliganism represents a grotesque form of nostalgia, postwar Japanese civility is a pose predicated on collective amnesia about wartime atrocities.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
The role of any newspaper, especially one with the long and proud legacy of The Sun, is not to smooth over uncomfortable realities in the name of civility.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civility
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civility
Noun
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Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling The Aurora Luxe Cooling mattress from Brooklyn Bedding excels at temperature regulation courtesy of its advanced cooling technologies and breathable hybrid construction.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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Tune into yourself while tuning out the outside world courtesy of an E-bike ride under the Tuscan sun, a stroll through the olive groves, a dip in the infinity pool, a meditative massage, or a private cooking class using ingredients sourced from the property.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Your niece’s lack of manners is hurtful and disappointing.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
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Footwear with impeccable manners and a very special kind of poise is grown-up in the best sense of the word.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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After missing 27 consecutive games with a sore right knee, days of rehab and setbacks, that simple gesture said it all.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
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The banner, more reminiscent of the way leaders are plastered on government buildings in a dictatorship like North Korea, is just the type of gesture the president expects.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Friendly or the blank politeness of impartiality?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
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His father was William Shawn, editor for 35 years of The New Yorker, known for his own mix of politeness and steel.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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From crisp, breathable cotton sheets that keep you cool in summer to luxurious silk or satin pillowcases that add a touch of elegance, the options are endless.—
Casey DelBasso,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Jackson plays Cooper, the sibling of Liz (Schlaepfer) and Cuoco’s character Kate, the eldest daughter who inherited her mother’s perfectionism, elegance, and organizational prowess.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There’s a quixotic gallantry to appealing to a saner conservative and looking ahead to a post-Trump American politics.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
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Queen Elizabeth later awarded Beaton the George's Cross, Britain’s highest civilian award for gallantry, for his role in saving her daughter’s life, and bestowed honors on Callender, as well as the other policemen and onlookers who intervened.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Life without that kind of attentiveness?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
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This conviction shaped his attentiveness to Jews facing state oppression.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg treats the Schwoopers with loving care, delving into themes of queerness, loss, religion, love, mental health, and growing up with a thoughtfulness and specificity that make his characters feel both familiar and unique.—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Apr. 2026
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That kind of thoughtfulness and personal care just feels so rare these days.—
Rose Evans
Updated March 31,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Civility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civility. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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