civilization

noun

ˌsi-və-lə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce civilization (audio)
Definition of civilizationnext
1
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

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2
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 Co-created by Craig Mazin and the game’s Neil Druckmann, The Last of Us, based on the award-winning Naughty Dog video game, takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2026 Buckle up for Seven of Nine exploring a remote cluster of uncanny exoplanets, strange alien artifacts, long lost civilizations, and trippy paranormal anomalies. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2026 There is no civilization or community in the world that does not need energy. — Zev Laine, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 But do distant worlds harbor the types of advanced spacefaring civilizations depicted in science fiction, or just far simpler microbes? — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for civilization
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civilization
  1. lifestyle
  2. culture
  3. society
  4. accomplishment
  5. life
  6. education
  7. cultivation
  8. refinement
Noun
  • The neighborhood/area Guests are about 30 minutes away from Tulum, itself a hot bed of boutique shops and lifestyle offerings from yoga and other wellness to some of North America’s top food.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Rush funneled $145 million into wire transfers to fund an extravagant lifestyle.
    — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of lifestyle
Noun
  • Follert credits the monthly check-ins and the direct impact employees can have in shaping the company culture for its ranking in the top 10.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Its obvious artificiality and absurdity fit neatly into an online meme culture that often revels in the uncanny.
    — Angela Yang, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of culture
Noun
  • But what begins as a bold and daring attempt to broach progressive issues in a notoriously conservative society ultimately loses its nerve, acquiescing to a number of eyebrow-raising narrative compromises.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • In countries where heat practices are deeply interwoven into society — such as Finland and Japan — public funding has supported some of this research.
    — Will Stone, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of society
Noun
  • Diamond earrings from Daniel’s Jewelers can celebrate everything from a graduation or promotion to a personal accomplishment that deserves considerably more recognition than a congratulatory text.
    — Ethan Stone October 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The idea came from Christeson’s emphasis on representing and celebrating the style and accomplishments of the actual professional women whom the garments are intended for.
    — Clara Hillis, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of accomplishment
Noun
  • Leaning into its history, Kessler has outfitted the hotel with installations that channel the Jurassic period, including life size dinosaur skeletons and fossils, backlit in a range of bright colors, displayed throughout the walls.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Marco Bello / Reuters Standing outside his father's home in Pensacola, Florida, amid the debris and damage left behind by Isaias, one man recounted how the storm took his stepmother's life and severely injured his father.
    — Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of life
Noun
  • Colleges must remember that they have been set up to provide people with an education that stretches their cognitive abilities while preparing them for whatever comes next.
    — Reynald Fasciaux, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Many investors have competing financial goals, such as saving for retirement, funding a child's college education, paying off student loans or buying a new home.
    — Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of education
Noun
  • The bear-resistant container was invented to arrest the inadvertent cultivation of problem bears.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Study Unprompted Giving Increases Look at donors who increased their giving without a major cultivation push and work backward.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of cultivation
Noun
  • Normalization of the death penalty—the refinement of the technical aspect, the legal aspect, the cultural aspect—has been a centuries-long project both within and outside the government.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra brings a faster chip, redesigned thermal cooling, and better battery life, but these refinements may feel too incremental for existing Tab S11 Ultra owners.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of refinement

Browse Nearby Words

civility
civilization
civilizations
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Cite this Entry

“Civilization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civilization. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on civilization

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about civilization

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