
Civilize
Politeness Focus
When using 'civilize' in this sense, there is an implication of teaching manners or proper behavior.

Schools help civilize children by instilling good manners.
Possibly Offensive
Be careful; saying someone needs to be 'civilize' can sound offensive, as it suggests they're uncultured or inferior.

It's rude to tell someone that you'll civilize them.
Colonial Overtones
The term can have colonial implications, hinting at forcing indigenous people to adopt foreign customs.

Historically, colonizers tried to civilize the lands they conquered.
Compare with
CultivateEducateEnlightenHumanizePolishRefineSocializeTame
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