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

“They believed that their society was making progress, that it was gaining greater control over nature, that they were becoming more civilized and were civilizing the environment around them,” Golinski said.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 26, 2023

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

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2023

The French called this aspect of imperialism “the civilizing mission.”

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

Cinna and Portia seem to have a civilizing effect on Haymitch and Effie.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins