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be civil

VERB

behave

Synonyms

STRONGEST

manage

STRONG

control direct

WEAK

act correctly act one's age act with decorum be good be nice be on best behavior be orderly comport oneself conduct oneself properly demean oneself deport oneself discipline oneself keep one's nose clean keep the peace live up to manage oneself mind one's manners mind one's p's and q's observe golden rule observe the law play fair shape up toe the mark watch one's step

Antonyms

WEAK

act up misbehave

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In some cases, reconciliation might be partial - being able to go to the same family functions and be civil, for example.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026

He tries to be civil, but he’s organically obnoxious.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025

“It is supposed to be civil detention, but… it is a jail,” Michael Lukens of the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, told NBC News in March.

From Salon • Jun. 24, 2025

Perry and Butt, both Ohioans, have become close friends post college and hope they can be an example of how rivals can also be civil.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 22, 2023

It made me queasy, pretending to be civil with a person so beneath human decency that he could crawl under a pregnant ant.

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

be civil

Example Sentences

Related Words