CIVILIZATION Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

civilization

noun

ˌsi-və-lə-ˈzā-shən

Definition of civilization

as in lifestyle

the way people live at a particular time and place a documentary on the advanced civilization created by the Mayas over a thousand years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in culture

a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts by the 18th century Boston had reached a level of civilization sufficiently advanced to support a circle of portrait painters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 civilization This is a character study of everyone who was caught in the undertow, and a look at all of us — as a civilization, really. — Kate Aurthur, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026 President Harry Truman said that scientists had created a monster that could wipe out civilization, and called for some sort of protection around the secret. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026 Compounding fears was a terrifying warning from a former AI executive last week that AI could end civilization within a decade and the tech companies aren’t doing enough about it. — S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026 Whether the result of natural disasters, shifting industries, or mysteries that remain unsolved, these places offer a haunting reminder of just how quickly civilization can be undone. — Charlotte Collins, Architectural Digest, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for civilization

Recent Examples of Synonyms for civilization

Noun

The swanky celebration kicked off with a ribbon-cutting for the Rivani, a $125 million, 163,000-square-foot mixed‑use office/lifestyle destination from local hospitality giant Robert Rivani.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
Available on podcast platforms and YouTube, the show features Ski interviewing celebrities, lifestyle experts and politicians in person.

— Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of lifestyle

Noun

Guest speakers are generally informed and enthusiastic, offering lectures relating to the culture and history of the sailing region.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Originally created in 2013 by the late, Pulitzer Prize-winning restaurant critic Jonathan Gold, the guide has become a definitive map to the region’s vibrant food culture and remains one of The Times’ most popular features.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of culture

Noun

Also very modern-seeming are the complex emotional relationships Perry describes between spouses, parents and their children, siblings or friends from different cultures or societies.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026
There were big problems in vast tranches of societies and cultures.

— David Brooks, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of society

Noun

Some trade analysts were struck by how few tangible accomplishments seemed to come from the meeting.

— MICHELLE L. PRICE, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026
With the American League East title won and homefield advantage secured through the Championship Series, the Rays don’t have much to play for during the final days of the regular season besides some individual accomplishments.

— Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of accomplishment

Noun

Lithium-ion is typically replaced or augmented every seven to ten years, at 8,000 to 10,000 cycles, and an Aqueous Metal Cell installation is designed to run the full life of the project around it.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026
Rather than insisting that these whales continue with their life, which is a human decision, perhaps they should be allowed to die gracefully and respectfully on their own.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of life

Noun

Sally Hayden’s reportage is always deeply humane, rigorous and challenging, and this new book promises to be an education.

— Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Its onboard offerings, wide array of itineraries and shore excursions—particularly those that are food and wine-driven—easily combine education, adventure, and good fun.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of education

Noun

The land that is now called Longwood Gardens has a rich history with many stewards, but the cultivation of the gardens themselves is largely attributed to American entrepreneur and businessman Pierre du Pont, who purchased the property in 1906.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 19 Sep. 2026
Organizers said the session will dive into cotton cultivation, including the stresses currently facing the crop and its growers and the innovations that are making the practice smarter and more sustainable.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of cultivation

Browse Nearby Words

civility

civilization

civilizations

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Civilization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civilization. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of civilization

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on civilization

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fungible

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes