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Synonyms

civilize

American  
[siv-uh-lahyz] / ˈsɪv əˌlaɪz /
especially British, civilise

verb (used with object)

civilized, civilizing

  1. to bring out of a savage, uneducated, or rude state; make civil; elevate in social and private life; enlighten; refine.

    Rome civilized the barbarians.
    Synonyms:
    sophisticate, polish, instruct, teach, educate
civilize British  
/ ˈsɪvɪˌlaɪz /

verb

  1. to bring out of savagery or barbarism into a state characteristic of civilization

  2. to refine, educate, or enlighten

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • civilizable adjective
  • civilizatory adjective
  • civilizer noun
  • decivilize verb (used with object)
  • noncivilizable adjective
  • overcivilize verb
  • uncivilizable adjective
  • uncivilize verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of civilize

1595–1605; < French civiliser; civil, -ize

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.