uncivil

adjective

ˌən-ˈsi-vəl How to pronounce uncivil (audio)
Definition of uncivilnext
1
as in rude
not civilized the uncivil and wild land that the pioneers tamed and settled

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disrespectful
showing a lack of manners or consideration for others such uncivil behavior will not be tolerated

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of uncivil History has shown us that giving government moral authority over its people is a route to an uncivil society. — Charles F. Miller, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026 Harder still to see the people who have persevered through it all and the culture that preserves signs of civilization, even in deeply uncivil times. — Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026 Lost in all the heated rhetoric is the fact that so much of this turmoil would have been avoided if federal detainers were simply honored within local jails and state prisons — away from the public and professional provocateurs who are drawn to uncivil cultural conflict like bees to honey. — Bob Ehrlich, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2026 Both mark the progression from civil dialogue to uncivil dialogue to force and fear. — Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for uncivil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uncivil
  1. rude
  2. disrespectful
  3. barbarian
  4. discourteous
  5. savage
  6. ungracious
  7. wild
  8. unmannerly
Adjective
  • Were my siblings rude to ignore my plan and take them for themselves?
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
  • An alligator with a sense of humor knocked on a North Carolina woman’s front door in the middle of the night, and the rascal got a rather rude response.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of rude
Adjective
  • The four-time Pro Bowl selection then was asked if the comment was disrespectful.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The island’s prefect, Thierry Devimeux, who is white and took up the post in September 2025, recently accused a Black fisherman of being disrespectful by talking to him in Creole.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of disrespectful
Adjective
  • Language would have been a part of the divide between Roman and barbarian.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 June 2026
  • For the design of the barbarian figure, Sweet reached out to Mark Taylor, an artist and designer at Mattel.
    — Sanat Pai RaikarAll, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026
Definition of barbarian
Adjective
  • Some do this flippantly, but reader Robin suggested drivers who do this do not care and are flat-out discourteous.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 11 Jan. 2026
  • In 2014, he was found to have been discourteous and used force.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of discourteous
Adjective
  • Onscreen, this ethnic conflict allowed Ken-san and other kimonoed gangsters to be presented as pure, sincere, patriotic heroes fighting for traditional Japanese values against savage aliens as well as local, gun-toting yakuza.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The Indian pilot who fought off a savage attack by his copilot and helped prevent an apparent hijack of a Flydubai plane heading to Israel with more than 170 people on board is being hailed as a hero.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of savage
Adjective
  • But the tournament will also be remembered for a classless and churlish Argentina, which forever stained itself with a thuggish performance in the game and an ungracious one afterward.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
  • Coaches Dawn Staley of South Carolina and Geno Auriemma of UConn had a heated courtside exchange afterward as Auriemma, in character, complained about the officiating and proved an ungracious loser, but at least apologized a day later.
    — Greg Cote April 5, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of ungracious
Adjective
  • The study, led by researchers at the University of Nottingham and Tohoku University in Japan, examined wild Euhadra snails to understand the biological mechanisms behind this phenomenon, known as chirality.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The leaves aren’t the only things wild with color this season.
    — Ciarra Lorren Zatorski, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of wild
Adjective
  • Criticizing gifts is unmannerly, and while one is not generally allowed to expect gifts, the rule can be bent in the case of romantic partners.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
Definition of unmannerly

Browse Nearby Words

unchurched
uncivil
uncivilized
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Cite this Entry

“Uncivil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uncivil. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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