civilize

Definition of civilizenext
as in to cultivate

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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 civilize Biking in Copenhagen is civilized—collective pressure ensures hand signals and other forms of etiquette are strictly adhered to. Tamara Shopsin, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2025 These facts, in turn, were wielded as evidence for the need of a civilizing Christian influence. David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025 If Providence gave Americans the right to civilize a continent, why not the world? Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025 Practically speaking, if your checklist is mostly phones and a CPAP, a mid-size electric battery station is civilized: quiet, indoor-safe and instantly useful. Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for civilize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civilize
Verb
  • Picking a pineapple in Upcountry In the 1960s, Hawaii produced 80 percent of the world’s pineapple—the fruit was synonymous with the state—and on the slopes of Haleakala, Maui Gold Pineapple was queen, cultivating 10,000 acres of the sweetest fruit around.
    Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 14 May 2026
  • Today, Fingerboard cultivates hemp, a type of cannabis that, unlike marijuana, is nonintoxicating and widely considered a wellness product.
    William Deffaa, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Land to farm and urbanize Another concern for foreign investors: the obstacles to acquiring land for urban development.
    Sarah Moreno Updated March 24, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
  • If appropriate action is not taken, economic growth in urbanizing cities will continue to happen at the cost of the less fortunate.
    Chloe Wong, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Civilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civilize. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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