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
James Porter, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
But in a time when formalities are an increasingly rare occurrence, and most beach resorts embrace flip-flops and athleisure—comfy, yes, but not polished or classy—the Gasparilla Inn’s insistence on dressing up is refreshingly civilized, if a bit old-fashioned.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
In Raspail’s tale, hordes of impoverished and dark-skinned brutes from India descend onto French shores by way of rafts, the first wave of an invasion of the civilized West by the brown-skinned developing world.
—Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
One does detect in Iran hawks a kind of 'will to destruction' and hatred of boring, civilized diplomacy.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civilized
Adjective
Libraries are among the most democratic institutions a civilized society has ever devised.
—James Porter, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
But in a time when formalities are an increasingly rare occurrence, and most beach resorts embrace flip-flops and athleisure—comfy, yes, but not polished or classy—the Gasparilla Inn’s insistence on dressing up is refreshingly civilized, if a bit old-fashioned.
—Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
In Raspail’s tale, hordes of impoverished and dark-skinned brutes from India descend onto French shores by way of rafts, the first wave of an invasion of the civilized West by the brown-skinned developing world.
—Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
One does detect in Iran hawks a kind of 'will to destruction' and hatred of boring, civilized diplomacy.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civilized
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civilized
Adjective
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The durable cultured marble top holds two ceramic undermount sinks.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
28 Apr. 2026
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In short, for the first time Tavira will be in the sights of the cultured, high-end traveler who at last has somewhere to lay their (well coiffured) head.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Medieval schoolmen worrying over Aristotle could be pedants; so could cultivated female salonnières in seventeenth-century Paris.—
Clare Bucknell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
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Israel cultivated a close relationship with Azerbaijan shortly after its independence, with the duo soon becoming one of each other’s most important allies.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Plenty of Sellers’ struggles could be pinned on offensive play calling and a lack of polished talent around him.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Instead, the designer recommends trying a combination such as polished nickel paired with warm brass or gold.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Brody couldn’t ask for a better scene partner than Thompson, an accomplished theater actor who gives haunting texture to a character unique in both her imperfections and seductive appeal.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
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An accomplished manager, producer, and licensed entertainment attorney, Witter specializes in representing writers, directors, actors, and multi-hyphenate talent across both film and television.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Civilized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civilized. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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