as in cultured
having or showing a taste for the fine arts and gracious living
a civilized older couple who are celebrated for holding dinner parties that are attended by the city's best and brightest
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Recent Examples of civilized
Tamara Shopsin, Travel + Leisure, 16 Dec. 2025
The announcement will be at a much more civilized hour for fans on the East Coast.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 5 Dec. 2025
First-generation Vipers (1991 through 2002) grew marginally more civilized over a decade, but the original cars were essentially rag-top roadsters in the hair-shirt tradition of the Shelby Cobra.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025
The Gauls had been described as barbarians by Julius Caesar and Livy, but now had become these Ur people, far more ancient and civilized than their ancient Roman detractors.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civilized
Adjective
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
The announcement will be at a much more civilized hour for fans on the East Coast.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 5 Dec. 2025
First-generation Vipers (1991 through 2002) grew marginally more civilized over a decade, but the original cars were essentially rag-top roadsters in the hair-shirt tradition of the Shelby Cobra.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025
The Gauls had been described as barbarians by Julius Caesar and Livy, but now had become these Ur people, far more ancient and civilized than their ancient Roman detractors.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civilized
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civilized
Adjective
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Crème fraiche is a rich, cultured cream with a high butterfat content and mild, tangy flavor.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
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Natural pearls, which, unlike cultured pearls, form spontaneously without human intervention, have become increasingly rare.—
Elle Meier,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As officials worked to dismantle the culture that had been cultivated in Tocorón, Guerrero – who now sat at the helm of the transnational gang – broke out of the prison, along with several other members.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
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Believed in it and cultivated it.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The prose looks polished, charts look clean, and a single percentage point buried in the model quietly pushes the decision in a different direction.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Like Coleman, Boston’s size (6-4, 210) and physicality enable him to win more than his fair share of jump balls, but the Huskie wideout is also a polished route-runner, especially on slants and comebacks.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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An accomplished trial attorney, Weissman was best known for his work as a medical malpractice lawyer and his tenure as president of the Miami-Dade County Bar Association.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
15 Jan. 2026
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When their 1985 film The Color Purple came into conversation, the two accomplished titans of acting and daytime reflected on their journey in the years since.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Civilized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civilized. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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