as in to symbolize
disapproving
to treat (someone) as an object rather than as a person
She says beauty pageants objectify women.
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Recent Examples of objectify
Whether beauty pageants — events that, almost by definition, objectify women — should have any role in today’s world is a matter of debate.
—
Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
We were objectified by most of our producers.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Despite Martel’s intentions, the video was widely viewed as sexist and misogynistic, with many seeing the women as being objectified by the three male artists.
—Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 19 Sep. 2025
In metaphysics, disease is understood to be fears and false beliefs objectified physically.
—Evan Mehlenbacher, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for objectify
Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
We were objectified by most of our producers.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Despite Martel’s intentions, the video was widely viewed as sexist and misogynistic, with many seeing the women as being objectified by the three male artists.
—Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 19 Sep. 2025
In metaphysics, disease is understood to be fears and false beliefs objectified physically.
—Evan Mehlenbacher, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for objectify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for objectify
Verb
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And though the coast gets its name from the city of Amalfi—once the seat of a powerful maritime republic—no town symbolizes this fabled stretch of coast more acutely than Positano.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
14 June 2026
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The ghosts of Belo Horizonte However, no moment symbolizes Brazilian soccer’s decline more than the 90 minutes of chaos at Belo Horizonte’s Mineirão stadium when the host nation took on Die Mannschaft in the World Cup semifinals on July 8, 2014.—
Emile Nuh,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Reflective finishes, whether incorporated through furniture details, lighting, or accessories, help amplify both natural and artificial light, while adding visual depth.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
16 June 2026
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As a result, any DNA that finds its way inside the cell has the potential to become intermingled with the genome and be incorporated permanently.—
John Timmer,
ArsTechnica,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Woods illustrates Sylvia’s sorrow through flashbacks to her daughter, Nadia (Olivia Edward as a teenager, Emma Farnell-Watson as an adult), who was a ballet dancer.—
Natalia Winkelman,
Variety,
16 June 2026
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Govia said the attack seems to illustrate an underlying issue in society right now.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Objectify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/objectify. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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