civilizing

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.

Heaney was born with a subject he often resisted, and “Digging” turns away from violence to the civilizing necessity of work.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

Love, in Marivaux’s world, is a civilizing force — much to the fairy’s fury.

From New York Times • Apr. 26, 2024

One might guess that the civilizing influence of Boomtown would form the arc of the season.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2023

He cited Philippine national hero Jose Rizal’s description of justice “as the foremost virtue of the civilizing races. It subdues the barbarous nations while injustice arouses the weakest.”

From Seattle Times • Mar. 2, 2023

But then, it seemed as if the Indians had been helpful to the settlers as well, so I didn’t see why they needed civilizing.

From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English