How to Use civilly in a Sentence

civilly

adverb
  • In those cases, talking it over civilly may be enough to come to agreement.
    — Jimmy Wales, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Presumably all this beating took place civilly, and things got done.
    — The Editorial Board, WSJ, 20 June 2019
  • These adults who fail to secure their weapons should be on the hook both criminally and civilly.
    — Jill Filipovic, CNN, 10 Jan. 2023
  • And for inmates who want to sue civilly, there is little legal support.
    — Evan Allen, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Oct. 2022
  • Two years later, he was found civilly liable for the double homicide.
    — NBC News, 15 Dec. 2021
  • This side in one corner, that side in the other corner and never the twain will meet, much less talk civilly.
    — Dave Hyde, sun-sentinel.com, 8 Aug. 2019
  • If that happened, Moore could be civilly liable to these clients for their penalties as well.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The bill also says that those blocking a road could also be held civilly liable for damages.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
  • This used to be a place where people with differing opinions hung out and discussed civilly.
    — Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 20 Apr. 2021
  • Two years later, he was found civilly liable for wrongful death in the double homicide case.
    — Doha Madani, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
  • Young was also sued civilly by the family members of those killed in the accident.
    — John MacCormack, San Antonio Express-News, 29 Dec. 2017
  • The two passed the day civilly until Dianne Silveira’s sister called on the house phone that night.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2021
  • Remaining civilly engaged and involved is the best way to help your son and grandkids feel safe and supported.
    — Washington Post, 29 Apr. 2022
  • The outcome of the election will determine the tone on the board and whether its members can conduct their business civilly.
    — Nina Agrawal, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2020
  • However, two years later, he was found civilly liable for wrongful death in the double homicide case.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 1 July 2024
  • The church announces that couples who have been married civilly no longer have to wait one year before getting sealed in a temple wedding.
    — CNN, 19 Aug. 2021
  • Despite having been found not guilty by a jury, he was found civilly liable in a wrongful death lawsuit and ordered to pay damages.
    — Latoya Gayle, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025
  • If that gun is used to commit a crime before the person turns 21, the co-signer would only be able to be held civilly liable.
    — Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 18 Aug. 2022
  • And the folks that are going to be civilly and potentially criminally liable for these risks?
    — Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2021
  • To that end, should the institutions that employed Nassar be held civilly liable?
    — Michael McCann, SI.com, 22 Mar. 2018
  • While many residents have protested civilly, some of the opposition has turned ugly.
    — Soumya Karlamangla Sinna Nasseri, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2023
  • In 2012, a judge ordered Tu Nguyen to be civilly committed for up to six months.
    — Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2018
  • Such defendants must be released or civilly committed.
    — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Baldwin in his role as actor appeared unlikely to be held criminally or civilly liable for the tragedy.
    — Anchorage Daily News, 27 Oct. 2021
  • The bill also makes anyone who blocks streets, such as protesters, able to be held civilly liable in court for damages caused as a result of the blockage.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Some people lamented that the country’s ability to debate the tough issues of the day civilly seems hopelessly lost.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 4 July 2018
  • Jurors during the first trial found Norman, who fired just after Younce, was not civilly liable.
    — Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 8 Jan. 2025
  • California law has a provision that extends the time frame to pursue cases like these, at least civilly, when the victim is a minor.
    — Natalie Hope McDonald, Vulture, 22 June 2022
  • In April, Murekezi was ordered civilly committed as mentally ill.
    — Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 8 June 2026
  • Remington, the other student found civilly liable in the wrongful death case, was the only one to be criminally charged.
    — Tresa Baldas, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'civilly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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