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civ·i·lize
 civilize
- pronunciation:
- sI
v
laIz
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
civilized, civilizes, civilizing |
| definition: |
to bring to an educated or refined condition; cause impulsive or destructive behavior to be voluntarily restrained.
They found a wild, mute child who had been living in a cave, and they attempted to civilize him.- synonyms:
- acculturate, humanize
- similar words:
- citify, cultivate, develop, educate, indoctrinate, sophisticate, tame
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| related words: |
culture, refine, smooth |
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