civilized

adjective

civ·​i·​lized ˈsi-və-ˌlīzd How to pronounce civilized (audio)
: characteristic of a state of civilization
civilized society
especially : characterized by taste, refinement, or restraint

Examples of civilized in a Sentence

A civilized society must respond to crime with fairness and justice. Stop yelling. We have to be more civilized about this. Try to act like a civilized human being! a civilized way to spend the evening
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Unlike his sister Athena (who was associated with military strategy and other relatively civilized aspects of warfare), Ares represented pure savagery. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2025 But the story being told and the decidedly not civilized setting seems to demand the graphic approach. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2025 Respect your neighbor’s right to peace and quiet enjoyment of their home, especially late at night when civilized people are trying to sleep! Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2025 What does ring true until the final frame of the show and into our present-day lives is that civilization and the civilized rarely occupy the same space. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for civilized 

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of civilized was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near civilized

Cite this Entry

“Civilized.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civilized. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

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