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Glite Dictionary
overcivilized

overcivilized

9.3
Too polite and controlled so people act less naturally
  • adjective
  • /ˌoʊvərˈsɪvɪlaɪzd/
translation icon : sobrecivilizado
  • Many believe modern society has become too overcivilized.

Examples

  • Some critics argue that modern society has become overcivilized and disconnected from nature.

  • In an overcivilized world filled with technology, many long for a return to a more natural way of life.

  • The author describes the city as overcivilized, where people have lost touch with basic instincts.

  • He felt overcivilized after years of living in a highly structured environment.

  • The city feels overcivilized with its artificial parks and skyscrapers.

  • After years in the city, he realized how overcivilized his lifestyle had become, missing the simplicity of nature.

  • The artist's work reflects his concerns about being overcivilized, contrasting urban life with the raw beauty of wilderness.

Synonyms

overdeveloped
vsovercivilized
  • Specialized
1 4.6

Grown too much so it seems extreme or unnatural

is about excess refinement from civilisation rather than simple physical growth
overrefined
vsovercivilized
7.6

Too careful or polite to seem natural

is caused by widespread social change leading to loss of natural qualities
overbred
vsovercivilized
8.8

Having very polite, fancy manners that seem fake and snobbish

is broader coming from society-wide refinement rather than personal affectation

Antonyms

natural
∞ 1.0

Not made or changed by people, coming from nature like sunlight

primitive
183 5.1

From an early stage of development that is simple and not advanced

How Civilized

overcivilized
9.3
civilized
29 4.3
uncivilized
  • Offensive
16 5.9

Surface Forms

overcivilized positive

Morphology

overcivilized = civilized (transparent) = over + civil + ize + ed

Meaning is clearly 'over-' (excessively) + 'civilized' (refined), yielding 'excessively civilized'.

Etymology

The word overcivilized starts with over- meaning 'too much' and ends with civilized, which comes from civil meaning 'of the city' or 'polite'. So, to be overcivilized is to be made 'too much' by city manners and rules, often losing natural feelings or simple ways of life.