Synonyms of civil

civil

adjective

ˈsi-vəl 

1

as in national

of or relating to a nation

the country was not destroyed by outside enemies but by a series of civil wars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• national
• public
• federal
• municipal
• civic
• governmental
• democratic
• internal
• government
• domestic
• republican
• nationwide
• intestine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• international
• global
• foreign
• nonnational
• external
• alien

2

as in polite

showing consideration, courtesy, and good manners

please try to be civil to your ex-husband at the upcoming family wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• polite
• gracious
• respectful
• thoughtful
• careful
• courteous
• nice
• civilized
• genteel
• friendly
• respectable
• pleasant
• gallant
• graceful
• ceremonial
• mannerly
• elegant
• well-bred
• good
• appropriate
• formal
• chivalrous
• attentive
• gentlemanly
• humble
• acceptable
• solicitous
• smooth
• considerate
• ceremonious
• decent
• proper
• suitable
• meek
• urbane
• ladylike
• decorous
• courtly
• correct
• hospitable
• deferential
• suave
• dutiful
• fitting
• cordial
• right
• submissive
• genial
• unctuous
• sociable
• gentlemanlike
• meet
• becoming
• refined
• red-carpet
• fit
• affable
• modest
• felicitous
• yielding
• couth
• befitting
• seemly
• demure
• unassertive
• comme il faut

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uncivil
• thoughtless
• rude
• discourteous
• ungracious
• thoughtless
• impolite
• inconsiderate
• unmannerly
• heedless
• disrespectful
• insolent
• inconsiderate
• informal
• impudent
• bold
• impertinent
• casual
• shameless
• saucy
• vulgar
• brash
• brassy
• audacious
• boorish
• unmannered
• uncouth
• improper
• ungenteel
• clownish
• churlish
• ill-mannered
• loutish
• inappropriate
• mannerless
• indecent
• ill-bred
• incorrect
• unseemly
• arrogant
• indecorous
• unceremonious
• uncalled-for
• lippy
• pretentious
• presumptuous
• bold-faced
• clodhopping
• conceited
• unrespectable
• presuming

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective civil contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of civil are chivalrous, courteous, gallant, and polite. While all these words mean "observant of the forms required by good breeding," civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness.

owed the questioner a civil reply

In what contexts can chivalrous take the place of civil?

In some situations, the words chivalrous and civil are roughly equivalent. However, chivalrous suggests high-minded and self-sacrificing behavior.

a chivalrous display of duty

When is it sensible to use courteous instead of civil?

The words courteous and civil are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, courteous implies more actively considerate or dignified politeness.

clerks who were unfailingly courteous to customers

How do gallant and chivalrous relate to one another, in the sense of civil?

Both gallant and chivalrous imply courteous attentiveness especially to women. Gallant suggests spirited and dashing behavior and ornate expressions of courtesy.

a gallant suitor of the old school

When can polite be used instead of civil?

The words polite and civil can be used in similar contexts, but polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality.

if you can't be pleasant, at least be polite

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of civil

The judge's ruling responded to a federal civil lawsuit against Mr. Trump and other administration officials filed Saturday by five Venezuelan men in immigration custody in Texas and New York local jails. —Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2025

However, this did not translate into a significant price increase, as some had hoped; it was revealed that the strategic reserve would be replenished solely with bitcoin obtained in criminal and civil forfeiture cases, rather than the government purchasing large quantities of the cryptocurrency. —David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025

In an initial court appearance on the day of his arrest, Sanchez pleaded not guilty to driving while intoxicated, and has since pleaded not guilty to lesser civil charges of refusing a chemical test and failure to obey traffic control devices. —Peter D'abrosca, Fox News, 16 Mar. 2025

The third individual placed on leave -- a member of the office's civil division -- posted about Elon Musk and Ed Martin, a leader of the Stop the Steal movement and President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., the sources said. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2025

Phrases Containing civil

• civil disobedience
• civil servant
• civil war