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Recent Examples of civilize
This kind of boosterism—no less evident in Bernard Lewis’s highbrow argument in The New Yorker that Muslims fear modernity than in Niall Ferguson’s entreaties for the Bush Administration to resume the British Empire’s task of civilizing the natives—always seemed bafflingly sterile to me.
—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Classic imperialism sought to bind disparate places together under a vast administrative structure, animated by a civilizing mission.
—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
16 Mar. 2026
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
If Providence gave Americans the right to civilize a continent, why not the world?
—
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civilize
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Classic imperialism sought to bind disparate places together under a vast administrative structure, animated by a civilizing mission.
—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
16 Mar. 2026
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
If Providence gave Americans the right to civilize a continent, why not the world?
—
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civilize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civilize
Verb
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Organizations that successfully fought for voting rights, educational opportunity, and political representation did not always cultivate the next generation of leadership with the same effectiveness.
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Swift has cultivated a loyal collective of her favorite brands, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Area (recall her famous Super Bowl jeans).
Verb
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Land to farm and urbanize Another concern for foreign investors: the obstacles to acquiring land for urban development.
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If appropriate action is not taken, economic growth in urbanizing cities will continue to happen at the cost of the less fortunate.
Cite this Entry
“Civilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civilize. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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