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
One goal as a council member was to restore some level of civility amongst members and how the public was treated.
—
U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
It's been five years of almost constant drama, with her adding fuel to the nation's loss of civility.
—Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
His message of civility and respect echoes from a distant, even quaint, time.
—John T. Shaw, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
Cox is convinced that the central issue confronting statesmen and stateswomen is to restore a culture of civility to American life and promote passionate and respectful discourse.
—John T. Shaw, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civility
U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025
It's been five years of almost constant drama, with her adding fuel to the nation's loss of civility.
—Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
His message of civility and respect echoes from a distant, even quaint, time.
—John T. Shaw, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025
Cox is convinced that the central issue confronting statesmen and stateswomen is to restore a culture of civility to American life and promote passionate and respectful discourse.
—John T. Shaw, Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civility
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civility
Noun
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Arguably one of the most memorable campaigns of the last decade came courtesy of Jonathan Anderson, who cast 88-year-old Dame Maggie Smith in a Loewe ad, the late legendary actor swaddled in a multi-colored faux fur coat, clutching a Puzzle bag.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2026
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There’s gentle exfoliation courtesy of betaine salicylate, a mild beta-hydroxy acid that buffs away little flakes and rough patches dry skin tends to collect.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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American elites aped European fashions, art, and manners, and Europeans admired American energy and efficiency.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
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Judith Martin's Miss Manners column has chronicled the continuous rise and fall of American manners since 1978.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But the gesture may be more symbolic than practical, since the ordinance could be difficult to enforce if passed, according to the county’s attorney.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
13 Jan. 2026
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This is a childhood that had all its ordinariness burned out of it by the linking of even seemingly trivial gestures (an offering of candy, a bath, a swim, the dust in a corner of a room) to an entire array of physical and mental agonies.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This superficial politeness hinders effective decision-making, erodes accountability, and leaves teams ill-equipped for pressure.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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There’s a relief that comes with this territory for City, shaking off footballing politeness and slipping into those comfy only-for-home joggers.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Oberoi is launching two luxury Nile dahabeyas, which revive the elegance of 1920s river travel, offering an intimate way to experience Egypt’s most storied landscapes along the Nile.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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The Tyrolean-style on-mountain lodge, Utah’s first five-star property as of 1982, still smacks of old-world elegance.—
Amy Tara Koch,
Robb Report,
29 Jan. 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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Luxury service on a yacht is defined by seamless attentiveness, privacy and hyper-personalized care.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
18 Jan. 2026
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Good care requires a level of presence and attentiveness that just can’t be scaled.—
Jen Zamzow,
The Conversation,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
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But the book cannot credit Boone with commonplace human thoughtfulness.—
Julius Taranto,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
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This new thoughtfulness is changing how people plan travel.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Civility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civility. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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