decivilise
Definition
- Verb (transitive):
- To cause a loss of civilization: "decivilise" means to make a person, group, or society less civilized, often by destroying cultural, social, or moral structures, leading to a state of degradation or barbarism.
- To revert to a primitive state: It implies a process of reversing the advances of civilization, such as education, law, or refinement.
Usage Examples
- (The conflict caused people to lose their civilized behaviors and values.)
- (Critics claim these activities reduce cultural and moral standards.)
- (The ruler intentionally destroyed the country’s civilized structures.)
Advanced Usage
"to decivilise oneself": to deliberately abandon civilized norms or practices.
- He chose to decivilise himself by isolating in the wilderness, rejecting all modern comforts. (He intentionally gave up civilized life.)
"decivilising influence": a factor that leads to the loss of civilization.
- The influx of radical ideologies acted as a decivilising influence on the community. (The ideologies caused a decline in civilized behavior.)
Variants and Related Words
- Decivilise (alternative spelling: decivilize): both forms are acceptable, with "decivilize" more common in American English.
- Decivilisation (noun): the process or result of losing civilization.
- The decivilisation of the region was evident in the collapse of its educational system. (The loss of civilization was visible.)
Synonyms
- Barbarise: to make barbaric or primitive.
- Degrade: to lower in quality, status, or character.
- Brutalise: to make cruel, violent, or insensitive.
Antonyms
- Civilise: to bring to a state of civilization or refinement.
- Enlighten: to give intellectual or spiritual insight.
Related Idioms
"Return to the jungle": a metaphorical phrase for a state of lawlessness and savagery, similar to being decivilised.
- Without rules, the society returned to the jungle. (It became barbaric.)
"Go native": to adopt the lifestyle of a less developed culture, often implying a loss of one’s own civilized habits.
- After years abroad, he went native and decivilised. (He abandoned his original civilized ways.)