polarize
verb
po·lar·ize
ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz 
polarized; polarizing
1
: to cause to vibrate in a definite pattern
polarize light waves
2
: to give physical polarity to
3
: to break up into opposing factions or groupings
a campaign that polarized the electorate
4
: concentrate sense 1
recreate a cohesive rock community by polarizing … an amorphous, fragmented audience—
Ellen Willis
Ellen Willis
: to become polarized
Synonyms
Examples of polarize in a Sentence
The war has polarized the nation.
The current debate polarizes along lines of class and race.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Arab media, which had been badly fragmented and politically polarized during the previous decade’s intraregional political wars, has largely reunited in defense of Gaza.
—Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2024
Beneath it, however, there’s still layer upon layer of glass, polarizes, color filters, capacitive touch sensors, and more.
—IEEE Spectrum, 19 Apr. 2024
Search continues for ‘fair and impartial’ jurors in Trump’s historic trial
Donald Trump made history yesterday as the first former president to stand trial on criminal charges — and quickly put in stark relief the polarizing impact on the public.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 16 Apr. 2024
Based on their voting records, Democratic and Republican members of Congress have become increasingly polarized, and both the more moderate and more conservative wings of the congressional GOP have moved to the right at similar rates.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2024
He’s also taken stands on polarizing issues such as gay rights, climate change and gun control.
—Josh Funk, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
But India has also become increasingly polarized along religious lines and critics say another five-year term will give Modi’s right-wing BJP a mandate to continue its policies that have transformed the country from a secular republic to a Hindu-first nation.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Even when the topic was as macabre and polarizing as that of a former American golden boy implicated in the grisliest of crimes.
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024
Though few issues are as polarizing, a new study published Monday found some common ground in how Americans view guns in their local communities.
—Gabrielle Lamarr Lemee, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2024
Beneath it, however, there’s still layer upon layer of glass, polarizes, color filters, capacitive touch sensors, and more.
—IEEE Spectrum, 19 Apr. 2024
Search continues for ‘fair and impartial’ jurors in Trump’s historic trial
Donald Trump made history yesterday as the first former president to stand trial on criminal charges — and quickly put in stark relief the polarizing impact on the public.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 16 Apr. 2024
Based on their voting records, Democratic and Republican members of Congress have become increasingly polarized, and both the more moderate and more conservative wings of the congressional GOP have moved to the right at similar rates.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2024
He’s also taken stands on polarizing issues such as gay rights, climate change and gun control.
—Josh Funk, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
But India has also become increasingly polarized along religious lines and critics say another five-year term will give Modi’s right-wing BJP a mandate to continue its policies that have transformed the country from a secular republic to a Hindu-first nation.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Even when the topic was as macabre and polarizing as that of a former American golden boy implicated in the grisliest of crimes.
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024
Though few issues are as polarizing, a new study published Monday found some common ground in how Americans view guns in their local communities.
—Gabrielle Lamarr Lemee, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'polarize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Polarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polarize. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
polarize
verb
po·lar·ize
ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz
polarized; polarizing
1
: to cause to vibrate (as light waves) in a definite pattern
2
: to give physical polarity to
3
: to break up into opposing groups
4
: to become polarized
polarization
noun
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