Synonyms for civilize
ˈsɪv əˌlaɪzciv·i·lize

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:4.5 / 4 votes

1. educate, school, train, cultivate, civilize, civiliseverb

   teach or refine to be discriminative in taste or judgment

   "Cultivate your musical taste"; "Train your tastebuds"; "She is well schooled in poetry"

   Synonyms:
   aim, groom, educate, naturalise, cultivate, school, develop, discipline, take aim, rail, work, domesticate, check, coach, condition, direct, train, trail, take, naturalize, tame, civilise, crop, prepare

2. civilize, civiliseverb

   raise from a barbaric to a civilized state

   "The wild child found wandering in the forest was gradually civilized"

   Synonyms:
   school, educate, civilise, cultivate, train

Matched Categories

1. • Change

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. civilizeverb

   Synonyms:
   refine, cultivate, educate, polish, enlighten, improve, humanize, reclaim from barbarism

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How to use civilize in a sentence?

1. F. Scott Fitzgerald:

   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.

2. F Scott:

   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.