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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

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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

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.
Recent Examples of civil Ronald Walker’s murder On Dec. 12, 1996, Ronald Walker was standing near an intersection when two men approached him, according to the civil complaint. Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2025 Over the past few months, the Houthis have arrested dozens of U.N. personnel, aid workers, and individuals associated with civil society groups and the shuttered U.S. Embassy in Yemen's capital, Sanaa. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025 Cox, appointed by Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu in 2022, affirmed on local news station WCVB last Sunday that his department does not comply with ICE's civil immigration detainers. Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 23 Feb. 2025 Fulton, an ex-girlfriend of Nicolas Cage and mother of Weston Cage, is suing the actor father-son pair for negligence and Weston Cage for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, according to a civil lawsuit filed in Los Angeles this week. Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for civil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil
Adjective
  • Also worth noting: in the last 10 years, seven national champions entered the tournament as a 1-seed, with 2-seed Villanova (2016), 4-seed UConn (2023) and 7-seed UConn (2014) the outliers.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
  • On Tuesday, Trump raised the scepter of new tariffs on copper, again in the context of national security.
    Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Interaction with the clients is very polite, very kind—but very short.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Grownups in his life describe him as friendly, polite, curious, bright, and playful.
    MARE Staff, Boston Herald, 2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • But instead of being gracious, Trump booted Zelenskyy out of the White House, leaving the hero’s lunch on a tray in the hall, torpedoing his existential fight to save his battered country and Ukrainian lives.
    Maureen Dowd, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Here’s a gracious one-bedroom in North Park Slope, close to the Park and Grand Army Plaza, with an elegant layout: a big foyer, with a large living room on one side, the bedroom on the other, and a kitchen in the middle.
    Kim Velsey, Curbed, 18 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Civil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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