uncivil
uncivil
Pronunciation
/ʌnˈsɪvəl/
ʌn: This syllable starts with the vowel sound /ʌ/ as in "cut", followed by the nasal consonant /n/ as in "nine".
ˈsɪv: This syllable begins with the stressed vowel sound /ɪ/ as in "sit", followed by the voiceless fricative consonant /v/ as in "vine".
əl: This syllable consists of the schwa sound /ə/ as in "about", and the liquid consonant /l/ as in "like".
Word Form Variations
Since "uncivil" is an adjective, it doesn't have plural forms like nouns. However, it does have different forms to indicate degrees of intensity:
uncivil (positive degree): This is the basic form of the adjective.
more uncivil (comparative degree): Used to compare the level of incivility between two things or groups.
most uncivil (superlative degree): Used to indicate the highest degree of incivility among three or more things or groups.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective:
Definition 1: Lacking in good manners or politeness; rude and discourteous.
"The customer service representative was incredibly uncivil, hanging up the phone before I could finish my question."
Synonyms: rude, impolite, disrespectful, ill-mannered, discourteous, curt, abrupt, surly, boorish
Antonyms: polite, courteous, respectful, civil, gracious, cordial
Definition 2: (archaic) Not civilized; barbarous or savage.
"The explorers encountered uncivil tribes in the deepest parts of the jungle."
Synonyms: barbaric, savage, wild, primitive, uncivilized
Antonyms: civilized, cultured, refined, sophisticated
While "uncivil" can technically be used as a noun ("His uncivil was shocking"), this usage is extremely rare and archaic. It's almost exclusively used as an adjective.
Examples of Use
Books:
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee: "Jem and I hated her. If she was on the porch when we passed, we would be raked by her wrathful gaze, subjected to ruthless interrogation regarding our behavior, and given a melancholy prediction on what we would amount to when we grew up, which was always nothing.1 We had long ago given up the idea of walking past her house on2 the sidewalk; that only made her more furious." (Lee) - Here, the character of Mrs. Dubose is described as having an "uncivil" demeanor towards the children, highlighting her harsh and unpleasant interactions with them.
Newspapers:
The New York Times: "The president denounced the 'uncivil' behavior of protesters who disrupted his speech." (hypothetical example) - This example demonstrates how "uncivil" can be used to describe disruptive and disrespectful actions in a political context.
Online Publications:
The Atlantic: "Online discourse has become increasingly uncivil, with personal attacks and inflammatory language replacing reasoned debate." (hypothetical example, but reflects common discussions) - This illustrates the use of "uncivil" to describe the negative and hostile communication often found in online spaces.
Entertainment:
Television show "The West Wing": In a heated debate, one character might accuse another of being "uncivil" for interrupting or using insulting language. (hypothetical example, but common in political dramas) - This showcases how the word can be used to highlight breaches of etiquette and decorum in a dramatic setting.
General Public Discourse:
Social media: "That tweet was so uncivil! You should apologize for being rude." (common usage on platforms like Twitter) - This reflects how "uncivil" is used in everyday online conversations to call out disrespectful behavior.
10 Famous Quotes Using Uncivil
"When the laws are unjust, resistance is not uncivil—it is necessary." — Henry David Thoreau (paraphrased from Civil Disobedience)
"It is possible to be firm without being uncivil, passionate without being cruel." — Barack Obama
"An uncivil society is not one that argues, but one that refuses to listen." — Cornel West
"Uncivil behavior often masks an insecure mind." — Eleanor Roosevelt (paraphrased from her writings on human rights and character)
"The most uncivil thing we can do is remain silent in the face of injustice." — Angela Davis
"To call protest uncivil is to demand quiet in a house that’s burning down." — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
"No great movement was ever born from comfort and civility. It begins in what some call unruly or uncivil." — Martin Luther King Jr. (paraphrased from his Letter from Birmingham Jail)
"The charge of incivility is often used to silence dissent rather than invite debate." — Ta-Nehisi Coates
"There is no virtue in being civil if civility means tolerating the intolerable. Better to be called uncivil than to be complicit." — Audre Lorde (paraphrased from her essays on speaking out)
"Civility is not the absence of disagreement. Uncivil behavior is when disagreement becomes dehumanization." — Brené Brown
Etymology
Imagine "civil" as the root of our word. "Civil" comes from old Latin words meaning "citizen" and how citizens should act in a society. So, "civil" behavior is basically playing nice and following the rules of polite interaction.
Now, slap "un-" onto the front, and you get the opposite! "Uncivil" means not acting like a good citizen, being rude, or breaking those social rules.
Think of it like this:
Civil: Saying "Excuse me" when you bump into someone.
Uncivil: Shoving past someone and yelling at them.
The first recorded use of "uncivil" was way back in the 1550s. But, it meant something a bit different then! It was closer to "uncivilized" - like describing someone who lived outside of society, maybe in a wild tribe with no laws or manners.
Over time, the meaning shifted. By the 1590s, it started to mean "impolite" like we use it today. So, instead of describing a whole society, it became about how individuals act towards each other.
Basically, "uncivil" went from meaning "wild and uncultured" to just "rude and unpleasant". Kind of like how a wild animal might not know table manners, but a rude person does know them, they just choose to ignore them!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Uncivil
Lesser-known phrases:
"To be uncivil to someone": This is a straightforward phrase, but it effectively conveys the act of being rude or impolite.
"An uncivil tongue": This phrase emphasizes the use of harsh or offensive language.
"Uncivil discourse": This refers to communication that is disrespectful and lacking in civility, often seen in political debates or online interactions.
Original phrases:
"To throw uncivil words like stones": This emphasizes the hurtful impact of uncivil language.
"An uncivil silence": This describes a situation where a lack of response or acknowledgment is used as a form of rudeness.
"To wear a mask of civility, but harbor uncivil thoughts": This highlights the contrast between outward appearances and inner feelings.
Idioms with synonyms:
"To have a sharp tongue": This idiom describes someone who speaks in a harsh or critical way.
"To give someone the cold shoulder": This idiom means to ignore or snub someone deliberately.
"To be a rough diamond": This idiom refers to someone who is good-natured but lacks social graces and can be blunt or rude.
"To rub someone the wrong way": This means to irritate or annoy someone.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of uncivil from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
