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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of civil
Hailey and Justin got engaged in 2018 and were married in a civil ceremony in New York City that year.
—
Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
Collins Aerospace delivers proven Mode S and monopulse SSR (MSSR) systems, including the next-generation Condor Mk3, supporting civil and military airspace worldwide.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Jan. 2026
Johnson also filed a civil suit against Manatee County and county commissioners, except Commissioner Mike Rahn, last year.
—Carter Weinhofer, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2026
Executives need to feel confident that a country won’t suddenly descend into civil unrest, military conflict, or armed revolution.
—Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civil
Adjective
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Smart noted that the event was somewhat overshadowed by recent national events.—
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The desire for change is strong, as Republican lawmakers want to maintain Florida’s leading role in the national school choice movement.—
Adjective
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This said, the movers were very polite and respectful and removed all of the excess packing.—
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Among her trio of old friends on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, Kate is the polite peacekeeper.—
Adjective
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After the initial encounter, sending a brief email or text is both gracious and strategic.—
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Our recipe hails from Mary Ada Marshall, a resident of Smith Island, who was gracious enough to share her recipe.—
Cite this Entry
“Civil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civil. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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