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

“Never darken my door again!” he thunders old-fashionedly, as though he’s subconsciously aware that the writers Kirsi Vikman and Jimmy Karlsson are drawing on centuries of love stories about savage men and civilizing women.

From New York Times • Sep. 21, 2023

Without the civilizing influence of true love, the widower returns to his roots, teaching Brooke how to track, shoot and lie.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2023

What did “the civilizing mission” of industrialized nations entail?

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

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