| Civilize 1. (v. t.) To reclaim from a savage state; to instruct in the rules and customs of civilization; to educate; to refine. 2. (v. t.) To admit as suitable to a civilized state. Thesaurus Entries acculturate, advance, ameliorate, amend, anthropomorphize, better, boost, bring forward, broaden, broaden the mind, catechize, demonstrate, direct, domesticate, edify, educate, elevate, emend, enhance, enlighten, enrich, fatten, favor, forward, foster, give instruction, give lessons in, go straight, ground, guide, humanize, illumine, improve, improve upon, inform, instruct, lard, lift, make an improvement, make human, meliorate, mend, nurture, open the eyes, polish, promote, raise, reeducate, refine, refine upon, reform, school, set right, sharpen the wits, show, show how, socialize, straighten out, tame, teach, teach a lesson, teach the rudiments, transfigure, transform, upgrade, uplift |