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civil

civil

84 3.9
Polite but not friendly or warm
  • adjective
  • /ˈsɪvəl/
: cortés
  • We should try to keep our discussions civil, even when we have different opinions.

And I think both are necessary for a safe and civil society, actually.

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Examples

  • We're never gonna get anywhere, either one of us, if we don't start being civil to each other.

  • So my advice for him would be keep the relationship as civil as possible.

  • Thank you both for a brilliant and extremely civil exchange.

  • We had a really nice show planned for you, very civil, very calm.

  • I only asked you a civil question.

  • Are we going to keep this civil, or am I going to be doing this by myself tonight?

  • And we have to use it in a more civil and less emotional way.

  • We exchanged information in a civil way.

  • Normally, as long as he stays civil in my jurisdiction, I let him be.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • "I have never been known to be less than civil, Denny," she said, lifting her pointy chin.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

polite
vscivil
336 1.0

Showing good manners and respect to other people

is only minimally friendly and stays emotionally distant
respectful
vscivil
146 1.1

Being polite and showing admiration for someone

is more neutral and stays emotionally distant while keeping only basic manners
courteous
vscivil
39 3.7

Polite and respectful when you speak or behave

is more reserved and shows only simple, unemotional manners
well-mannered
vscivil
12 2.9

Polite and respectful to other people

is less warm and shows only the minimum acceptable manners
mannerly
vscivil
2 4.1

Polite and behaving well around other people

is adequate but shows little warmth or friendliness

Antonyms

558 1.0

Not polite or showing little respect for others

21 2.3

Not showing good manners or respect to other people

9 6.0

Not polite and rude to other people

Compounds

514 3.1

A right the law gives people to be treated equally and have basic freedoms

479 3.2

A war between groups in the same country

A mass movement in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s to win equal rights for Black Americans

70 4.6

A basic right protected by law against unfair government action, like freedom of speech or religion

civil suit
  • Specialized
36 3.9

A lawsuit between people or companies to get money for harm that is not criminal

34 2.7

A person who works for a government department in a long-term job and is not elected

Refusing to follow some laws as a peaceful protest against unfair government actions

civil service
  • Formal
24 3.0

Government workers who run public services, are not in the military or courts, and are usually chosen by exams

A person who works to get equal rights for minority groups

civil law
  • Specialized
23 4.1

A system of law about private rights and disputes between people

22 3.6

A person who leads a city or local community and helps run public services

20 3.9

A legal partnership between two people, often same-sex, that gives many marriage rights

A person who works to get equal rights for people in minority groups

13 3.7

A group that trains people to protect their community in war or disasters

A war in the United States from 1861 to 1865 between the North and South over slavery and states' rights

civil engineer
  • Specialized
10 3.4

A person who designs and builds roads, bridges, and harbors for public use

civil action
  • Formal
9 5.3

A legal case to get money or fix a private wrong, not a criminal case

A civil war in Spain from 1936 to 1939 when General Franco overthrew the government

A marriage ceremony carried out by a government official rather than a religious leader

civil engineering
  • Specialized
8 3.5

Work that plans, builds, and looks after public things like roads, bridges, and dams

A person who supports strong personal rights and wants the government to not interfere in private choices

Polite, respectful discussion about political or controversial topics

6 4.5

A person or group that has power over people's daily life, not the military

A person who works to get equal rights and chances for minority groups

A public march where people demand equal rights for different races

2 6.5

Polite speech that shows respect and keeps a calm tone

A person who holds an official government job that is not military

1 4.4

The way a society is organized and kept peaceful

1 8.6

Failing to follow a court order that helps another person, causing fines or jail to make you obey

A war in the United States from 1861 to 1865 between the Northern and Southern states

A war in England from 1642 to 1651 between supporters of Parliament and the king that temporarily ended the monarchy

A United Nations organization that makes rules for safe international air travel

civil wrong
  • Specialized
1 8.1

An action or not doing something that harms another person and can lead to a lawsuit for money

1 8.1

Official checking and blocking of civilian letters and films by the military during war

1 4.2

Time officially used in a region for everyday activities

1 1.4

The year that starts on January 1 and ends on December 31 in the Gregorian calendar

Civil List
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Parliament gives money each year to pay official costs of the British royal family

civil day
  • Formal
1 3.2

A day that runs from midnight to the next midnight

civil death
  • Formal
1 9.9

A state in which a person loses most legal rights such as voting and owning property

civil script
  • Archaic
8.1

A simpler form of the Cyrillic alphabet for printing books and papers that are not religious

How Polite

cordial
31 4.1
polite
336 1.0
civil
84 3.9
rude
558 1.0

Surface Forms

civil positive

Etymology

Civil comes from the Latin word civis, meaning 'citizen'. Think of a town member behaving politely for others; from that idea civil came to mean being 'courteous' and proper in social life.