civilization

noun

ˌsi-və-lə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce civilization (audio)
Definition of civilizationnext
1
as in lifestyle
the way people live at a particular time and place a documentary on the advanced civilization created by the Mayas over a thousand years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in culture
a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts by the 18th century Boston had reached a level of civilization sufficiently advanced to support a circle of portrait painters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 civilization Co-created by Craig Mazin and the game’s Neil Druckmann, The Last of Us, based on the award-winning Naughty Dog video game, takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2026 Buckle up for Seven of Nine exploring a remote cluster of uncanny exoplanets, strange alien artifacts, long lost civilizations, and trippy paranormal anomalies. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2026 There is no civilization or community in the world that does not need energy. — Zev Laine, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 But do distant worlds harbor the types of advanced spacefaring civilizations depicted in science fiction, or just far simpler microbes? — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for civilization
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civilization
  1. lifestyle
  2. culture
  3. society
  4. accomplishment
  5. life
  6. education
  7. cultivation
  8. refinement
Noun
  • The neighborhood/area Guests are about 30 minutes away from Tulum, itself a hot bed of boutique shops and lifestyle offerings from yoga and other wellness to some of North America’s top food.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Rush funneled $145 million into wire transfers to fund an extravagant lifestyle.
    — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of lifestyle
Noun
  • Follert credits the monthly check-ins and the direct impact employees can have in shaping the company culture for its ranking in the top 10.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Its obvious artificiality and absurdity fit neatly into an online meme culture that often revels in the uncanny.
    — Angela Yang, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of culture
Noun
  • Unsurprisingly, Altman, 41, is a true believer in the society-changing potential of AI.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • And while The Atlantic has published largely skeptical coverage of major AI companies and their products’ impact on society, Thompson’s tone, in his podcasts and LinkedIn posts, has been more optimistic.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of society
Noun
  • Budge said some of her proudest accomplishments during her time on the council include Mather Veterans Village, the Sacramento region’s first permanent supportive housing development for homeless and disabled veterans.
    — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Being in the playoffs should feel like an accomplishment, but winning a series would be even more impressive.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of accomplishment
Noun
  • Using sine wave generators and pink lighting so saturated it essentially blots out all other color and shadow, Young and Zazeela created a space that’s somehow both static and full of life.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Over time, Buddhism introduced ideas of reincarnation and karmic retribution, linking a person's fate after death to their actions in life.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of life
Noun
  • Colleges must remember that they have been set up to provide people with an education that stretches their cognitive abilities while preparing them for whatever comes next.
    — Reynald Fasciaux, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Many investors have competing financial goals, such as saving for retirement, funding a child's college education, paying off student loans or buying a new home.
    — Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of education
Noun
  • The bear-resistant container was invented to arrest the inadvertent cultivation of problem bears.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Study Unprompted Giving Increases Look at donors who increased their giving without a major cultivation push and work backward.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of cultivation
Noun
  • Normalization of the death penalty—the refinement of the technical aspect, the legal aspect, the cultural aspect—has been a centuries-long project both within and outside the government.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra brings a faster chip, redesigned thermal cooling, and better battery life, but these refinements may feel too incremental for existing Tab S11 Ultra owners.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of refinement

Browse Nearby Words

civility
civilization
civilizations
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Cite this Entry

“Civilization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civilization. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on civilization

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about civilization

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