civilized
Not barbaric anymore
Civilized describes societies, people, or behavior that meet standards of social development, order, and refinement.
A civilized nation has organized governance, laws, and cultural institutions.
Civilized conversation remains polite and reasonable.
The word carries colonial baggage—historically used to contrast European societies with those deemed primitive or savage.
More neutrally, civilized can simply mean comfortable or agreeable: We finally sat down to a civilized meal.
Educated in arts, manners
- polishedSmooth, refined, accomplished
- elegantGracefully refined, tasteful
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
- urbaneRefined and courteous
cosmopolitan · worldly · genteel · tasteful · discerning · suave · debonair · graceful
Rules of polite conduct
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
- decorumFitting social conduct
- proprietyCorrectness of conduct
protocol · respectability · tactfulness · comportment · genteelness · diplomacy · courteousness · respectfulness
Forward movement or promotion
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- modernizationAdoption of current methods
- industrializationTransition to factory-based economy
- infrastructureBasic physical systems
urbanization · governance · democracy · legislation · reform · stability · prosperity · rule of law
Showing imaginative skill
- elegantGracefully refined, tasteful
- harmoniousPleasingly in accord
- beautifulExtremely pleasing aesthetically
- orderlyArranged with care
neat · structured · designed · architectural · planned · manicured · landscaped · ornamental
cultured
Educated in arts, manners
- polishedSmooth, refined, accomplished
- elegantGracefully refined, tasteful
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
urbane · cosmopolitan · worldly · genteel · tasteful · discerning · suave · debonair · graceful · cultivated
etiquette
Rules of polite conduct
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
- politenessCourteous, respectful conduct
- decorumFitting social conduct
propriety · protocol · respectability · tactfulness · comportment · genteelness · diplomacy · courteousness · respectfulness · gentility
advancement
Forward movement or promotion
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- modernizationAdoption of current methods
- industrializationTransition to factory-based economy
infrastructure · urbanization · governance · democracy · legislation · reform · stability · prosperity · rule of law · institutions
artistic
Showing imaginative skill
- elegantGracefully refined, tasteful
- harmoniousPleasingly in accord
- beautifulExtremely pleasing aesthetically
orderly · neat · structured · designed · architectural · planned · manicured · landscaped · ornamental · decorative
- cultivatedrefined, polished, sophisticated, elegant, cultured
- refinedrefined, polite, proper, gracious, elegant
- worldlyworldly, cosmopolitan, globe-trotter, globetrotter, world traveler
- developeddeveloped, advanced, evolved, progressed, grown
civilizedsavage
Fierce and untamed
barbaric · uncivilized · primitive · barbarous · wild
civilizeduncultured
Lacking refinement or education
unsophisticated · unrefined · philistine · ignorant · uneducated
- ancient civilizationsSocieties of the distant past
- lost civilizationsDefunct ancient cultures
- Western civilizationEuro-American cultural tradition
- early civilizationEarliest complex human societies
- alien civilizationsNon-Earth intelligent societies
- dawn of civilization
civilization, uncivilized, civilize, civilizing, civilizations