as in cultures
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
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Recent Examples of civilizations
The ironore deposits of the western Mediterranean became key to the prosperity of those civilizations in the east.
—
Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Ancient civilizations accomplished feats of engineering that continue to challenge modern understanding.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
The museum does a great job telling the story of the many civilizations that lived here through the centuries.
—Michele Kelemen, NPR, 14 Jan. 2026
Cast adrift from mainland Italy, the Mediterranean's largest island has been caught in the crosshairs of civilizations for centuries.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
The Discovery Channel series purports to investigate the mysteries and phenomena connected to the ranch, including ancient, lost civilizations and UFO activity.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2025
Scientists have spotted formations that challenge our understanding of physics, and theorists have dreamed up megastructures that could power entire civilizations.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 16 Dec. 2025
But alongside his sweeping tour of declining civilizations from Mesopotamia through 20th-century Somalia, Kemp doesn’t argue that people should simply surrender to catastrophe.
—Linda Kinstler, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2025
People who support ancient astronaut theory, a belief that aliens are real and shaped early civilizations on Earth, have also suggested extraterrestrial connections.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Ancient civilizations accomplished feats of engineering that continue to challenge modern understanding.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
The museum does a great job telling the story of the many civilizations that lived here through the centuries.
—Michele Kelemen, NPR, 14 Jan. 2026
Cast adrift from mainland Italy, the Mediterranean's largest island has been caught in the crosshairs of civilizations for centuries.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
The Discovery Channel series purports to investigate the mysteries and phenomena connected to the ranch, including ancient, lost civilizations and UFO activity.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2025
Scientists have spotted formations that challenge our understanding of physics, and theorists have dreamed up megastructures that could power entire civilizations.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 16 Dec. 2025
But alongside his sweeping tour of declining civilizations from Mesopotamia through 20th-century Somalia, Kemp doesn’t argue that people should simply surrender to catastrophe.
—Linda Kinstler, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2025
People who support ancient astronaut theory, a belief that aliens are real and shaped early civilizations on Earth, have also suggested extraterrestrial connections.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civilizations
Noun
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This blending of musical cultures takes the narrative quality of traditional corridos and incorporates rap and hip-hop styling, as well as uniquely modern Mexican American stories, as pioneered in large part by groups like Herencia de Patrones.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
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Bob Rockwell grew up on a ranch in Colorado, enchanted by the Western landscape and cultures.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Nearly a year before Kim debunked the rumors, Cheban rejected the claims during a March 2025 interview with Us Weekly, sharing sentiments similar to Kim’s about their differing lifestyles.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
22 Jan. 2026
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On both, local communities have chosen to preserve and return to traditional lifestyles, largely for the sake of tourists.—
Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Parallel societies in certain urban areas and rising violent crime statistics linked to some migrant cohorts in countries such as Sweden and Germany led to the dramatic rise of populist and patriotic parties across the continent, from France to Italy to the Netherlands.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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Freedom from fear mattered because frightened societies are easily manipulated.—
Philip Martin,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Civilizations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civilizations. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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