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

Smith seems to want to say something about the civilizing influence of women and their survival in a world of unruly and domineering men.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2025

Colonialism, once equated by the West with civilizing progress, became synonymous with iniquity.

From New York Times • Dec. 10, 2023

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

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

Mrs. Randall had passed many years before, and it was Alice’s thought that a woman would be a civilizing presence on the plantation.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead