Synonyms of civility

civility

noun

sə-ˈvi-lə-tē 

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

• courtesy
• gesture
• politeness
• manners
• etiquette
• formality
• attention
• ritual
• rules
• ceremony
• pleasantry
• kindness
• amenity
• decorum
• greetings
• rite
• observance
• respects
• honors
• mores
• grace
• regards
• proprieties
• kindliness
• form
• favor
• addresses
• protocol
• devoirs

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

• manners
• politeness
• elegance
• gallantry
• attentiveness
• thoughtfulness
• courtesy
• gentility
• courteousness
• hospitality
• graciousness
• gracefulness
• respectability
• mannerliness
• respect
• genteelness
• gentlemanliness
• chivalry
• refinement
• courtliness
• decorum
• urbanity
• consideration
• ceremony
• breeding
• cordiality
• deference
• formality
• ceremoniousness
• knighthood
• politesse
• decency
• friendliness
• sociability
• humility
• geniality
• seemliness
• suaveness
• affability
• meekness
• knightliness
• ceremonialness
• chivalrousness
• decorousness
• gentilesse
• modesty
• unctuousness
• propriety
• polish
• shyness
• felicitousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• incivility
• rudeness
• discourtesy
• disrespect
• boldness
• impoliteness
• insolence
• surliness
• audacity
• impudence
• brashness
• shamelessness
• vulgarity
• impertinence
• boorishness
• sauciness
• informality
• churlishness
• casualness
• ungraciousness
• delinquency
• indecency
• impropriety
• audaciousness
• presumption
• inappropriateness
• arrogance
• brassiness
• discourteousness
• incorrectness
• thoughtlessness
• loutishness
• clownishness
• conceit
• pretentiousness
• inconsideration
• inconsiderateness
• improperness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of civility

Beginning in her early teens, Joyce loved watching Kirk’s debates on Instagram, seeing in them not carefully honed rhetorical tactics but authentic civility. — Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 22 June 2026

In her vast experience monitoring civility, Miss Manners has observed that high standards, although perhaps rare everywhere, are just as likely, or perhaps even more likely, to be found among the lower as among the upper brackets. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 9 June 2026

As well as calling you a hypocrite almost a decade ago over your Monica Lewinsky jokes in the late 1990s and your calls for civility, John Oliver in particular has taken you to the woodshed over your criticism of late-night getting too partisan. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 17 June 2026

Four candidates drawing attention are Harold Cogdell, Carrie Cook, Mike Evans and Robert Harrington, who emphasized affordability, infrastructure and restoring civility to council meetings. — Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2026