sexualize
verb
sex·u·al·ize
ˈsek-sh(ə-)wə-ˌlīz 
ˈsek-shə-ˌlīz
sexualized; sexualizing
: to make sexual : endow with a sexual character or cast
Examples of sexualize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some women have believed or internalized this idea, too: that women can and should be fetishized, sexualized, domesticized, but not respected.
—
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2025
But some more thoughtful objections — see journalist Van Lathan’s October appearance on The Ringer podcast The Big Picture — take issue with the ways in which Perfidia is sexualized by two white men, DiCaprio and Sean Penn’s characters, the latter a neo-Nazi.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
Decency becomes criminalized, sexualized, and othered as a way to control bodily agency, identity, and expression.
—Helen Molesworth, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Burlesque is more sexualized, about the individual personality.
—Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sexualize
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Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2025
But some more thoughtful objections — see journalist Van Lathan’s October appearance on The Ringer podcast The Big Picture — take issue with the ways in which Perfidia is sexualized by two white men, DiCaprio and Sean Penn’s characters, the latter a neo-Nazi.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
Decency becomes criminalized, sexualized, and othered as a way to control bodily agency, identity, and expression.
—Helen Molesworth, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Burlesque is more sexualized, about the individual personality.
—Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sexualize
Cite this Entry
“Sexualize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sexualize. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
sexualize
transitive verb
sex·u·al·ize
variants
also British sexualise
sexualized also British sexualised; sexualizing also British sexualising
: to make sexual : endow with a sexual character or quality
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