adjective
- excessively polite, courteous, or formal; civility taken to an extreme or insincere degree
Usage: often implies that politeness masks true feelings or intentions; somewhat archaic or literary in modern usage
Examples
- His overcivil manner made everyone uncomfortable; we sensed he was hiding his real opinions.
- The ambassador's overcivil greeting seemed rehearsed and insincere.
- She found his overcivil behavior suspicious, as if he were performing politeness rather than feeling it.
- The overcivil tone of the letter suggested the writer was angry but trying to conceal it.
- He was overcivil to his rival, which only emphasized the tension between them.