She answered him with cold civility.
Source: tatoeba (914103)
Civility
/sɪˈvɪl.ɪ.ti/
Synonyms for "civility" (172 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (35)
Noun(7 words)
acculturationact of courtesyaffabilityagreeablenessamenitiesamenityamiabilityappropriatenessattentionbecomingnessbienseancebreedingceremoniescivilitiescivilizationclubbabilityclubbishnessclubbismcomitycommunicativeness
Show 1 more word
Adjective(5 words)
civil orderingcivil orderlinesscivilized mannercivilized mannerscommon social virtue
Verb(2 words)
civilize behaviorcivilize manners
Strong matches (51)
compatibilitycomplaisanceconformitycongenialityconsideratenessconsiderationconvenanceconventionconventional usageconventionalismconventionalitycordialitycorrectnesscourteousnesscourtesycourtlinesscultivationculturecustomdecencies
Show 23 more words
decencydecorousnessdecorumdeferencedignitiesdiplomacydiplomatic codeeducationeleganceeleganciesenculturationenlightenmentetiquetteexquisite mannersfamiliarityfavorfelicityfitnessfittingnessfondness for societyformformalitiesformality
Noun(7 words)
Adjective(1 words)
cultivated manners
Related words (86)
friendlinessgenialitygenteelnessgentilitiesgentilitygood formgood mannersgraceful gesturegracefulnessgracesgraciousnessgregariousnesshappinesshospitalityintimacymannermannersmeetnessmoresnatural politeness
Show 37 more words
point of etiquettepolishpolite actpolitenesspolitessepropernessproprietiesproprietyprotocolpunctilioquiet good mannersrefinementrespectrespectfulnessrightnessritesritualsrules of conductseemlinesssociabilitysociablenesssocial codesocial conductsocial conventionsocial gracesocial gracessocial proceduressocial usagesocialitysocializationsolicitousnesssolicitudesuitabilitytacttactfulnessthoughtfulnessurbanity
Adjective(9 words)
italian civile conceptspolite behaviorpolite conductpolite restraintprivate club etiquetterefined behaviorrespectful interactionsocial suitabilityuniversal politeness
Noun(18 words)
mannermannerlinessmannersmore civillymost civil conductmost civillymutual respectneighborlinessnicenessnicetiesnicetyprissinessprudencepublic interaction rulesrespect for othersrespectful languagespeak civillyspeak courteously
Adverb(2 words)
more civil progressmost civil orderliness
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: politeness, acculturation, act of courtesy, acted civilly, affability.
- Sentence evidence is available for civility, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "civility".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "civility"
Keep "civility" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "civility" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "civility", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "civility" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
7 entriesMore specific
5 entriesCollocations
6 entriescivility in classcivility in conversationcivility in debatecivility in group workcivility normscivility toward others
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
3 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesSample sentences
14 total sentences available.
One step forward is a step towards civility.
Source: tatoeba (6089691)
The way a country treats its intellectuals is a sign of its civility. The way a country treats its farmers is a sign of its conscience.
Source: tatoeba (8640219)
This is a sensitive topic, so we have to approach this discussion with civility and maturity.
Source: tatoeba (9182705)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "civility"?
Closest matches include politeness, acculturation, act of courtesy, acted civilly, affability.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "civility"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.