as in to divide
to cause (people) to break up into opposing groups
A hot button issue that is sure to polarize the public.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of polarize
His legacy remains deeply polarizing, defined by wartime leadership, executive power, and partisan transformation.
—
Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
The country singer had posted a photo on Instagram of the polarizing conservative activist with himself and wife Brittany, and praised Kirk in the caption.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Nov. 2025
Obviously, our times are very unstable and it’s all polarized and people have a lot of anxiety, more than ever probably.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
Even as America becomes more polarized, the workplace is one spot where people from all different faiths regularly interact, giving rise to the potential for conflict.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polarize
Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
The country singer had posted a photo on Instagram of the polarizing conservative activist with himself and wife Brittany, and praised Kirk in the caption.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Nov. 2025
Obviously, our times are very unstable and it’s all polarized and people have a lot of anxiety, more than ever probably.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
Even as America becomes more polarized, the workplace is one spot where people from all different faiths regularly interact, giving rise to the potential for conflict.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polarize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polarize
Verb
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Qianlong took a page from the design of private gardens in southern China to make the layout more compact, and divided the site into four connected courtyards, two of which are currently open to the public, from south to north.—
Fred He,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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Engineers divide conventional aircraft into three main lightning zones.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Arsenal’s first half in the 4-1 home win against Aston Villa a week ago — when the visitors continuously broke through the middle of the pitch — was the perfect example of what happens when their partnership is split up, in this case by Rice’s knee injury.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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In the aftermath, Venezuelan society became further split between the wealthy, who wanted to work with the US, and the working class, who sought autonomy from the US.—
James Trapani,
Fortune,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Polarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polarize. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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