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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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One of the best ways to assuage those feelings of mom guilt is to be intentional about cultivating things that are just for you.—
Joy Harden Bradford,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
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Philosophers, theologians and educators have long considered patience an important character trait to cultivate.—
Christian B. Miller,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Verb
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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
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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.—
Chloe Wong,
Hartford Courant,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Civilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civilize. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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