civilizations

noun

plural of civilization
as in cultures
the way people live at a particular time and place a documentary on the advanced civilization created by the Mayas over a thousand years ago

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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 civilizations And indeed, that’s what frontier civilizations have always done. — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2026 The Middle East has seen several significant archaeological discoveries in 2026, revealing new insights into ancient civilizations and the region’s rich history. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026 Division by 60, or a base-60 system, traces back to the Sumerian and Babylonian civilizations of Mesopotamia. — Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026 Invaders may have finished off some of the great ancient civilizations, but only after they had been weakened by drought, famine, disease, flooding and internal divisions that catastrophe often sparks. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 Buckle up for Seven of Nine exploring a remote cluster of uncanny exoplanets, strange alien artifacts, long lost civilizations, and trippy paranormal anomalies. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2026 But do distant worlds harbor the types of advanced spacefaring civilizations depicted in science fiction, or just far simpler microbes? — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 Sep. 2026 Most, though, relate in some manner to the (thoroughly debunked) theory of Hollow Earth, one that posits there are advanced civilizations that operate deep below the surface of our planet. — Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 But Dwarkesh’s civilizations will need to be a lot more powerful to conquer the world. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for civilizations
  1. cultures
  2. lifestyles
  3. societies
Noun
  • Brushing off tombstones is a regular ritual in some cultures, including in Mexico where entire families clean and decorate graves, which are covered with orange marigolds for Day of the Dead.
    — Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Across cultures, textiles have played a role in navigating the passage between life and death.
    — Livia Caligor, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of cultures
Noun
  • Britain will also see migration, Vince said, as people adapt their lifestyles and infrastructure.
    — Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Outside the South, interestingly, recent research has found a greater embrace of Southern accent features, emerging in particular among those in rural areas where traditional lifestyles and, often, more conservative views are embraced.
    — Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of lifestyles
Noun
  • However, like many other coastal societies shaped by the migration and economics of Atlantic cod, Lofoten has been no stranger to ecosystem pressures over the decades, from shifting migration patterns to offshore fishing fleets.
    — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
  • These societies still fear China and North Korea and still depend on the United States.
    — Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of societies

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Cite this Entry

“Civilizations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/civilizations. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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