civilize

Verb

Meaning

To reclaim from a savage state; to instruct in the rules and customs of civilization; to educate; to refine.

To admit as suitable to a civilized state.

Source: Webster's dictionary

Synonyms

school train educate cultivate refine humanize civilise polish better direct guide coach foster develop improve
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Antonyms

allow daunt damage break block learn
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Hypernyms

polish down change alter modify refine

Hyponyms

sophisticate

Related terms

city civil civilian civilization citizen civilisation

Derivatives

civilized civilizing

Examples

Either you think, or else others have to think for you and take power from you, pervert and discipline your natural tastes, civilize and sterilize you. F. Scott Fitzgerald

I will insist that the Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations. John Adams

Who can over estimate the progress of the world if all the money wasted in superstition could be used to enlighten, elevate and civilize mankind? Robert G. Ingersoll

Friendship is one of the grand fundamental principles of "Mormonism"; [it is designed] to revolutionize and civilize the world, and cause wars and contentions to cease and men to become friends and brothers. Joseph Smith

To all Christian governments Christianity was not a rule of means but a means of rule; Christ was for the people, Machiavelli was preferred by the kings. The state in some measure had civilized man, but who would civilize the state? Will Durant

Alas! I have civilized my own subjects; I have conquered other nations; yet I have not been able to civilize or to conquer myself. Peter I of Russia

Close letter words and terms

civilizational civilizationally civilizatory civilized civilized age civilized alliance