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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Recent Examples of polarize
For Peter Loge, director of George Washington University's Project on Ethics in Political Communication, the widening education divide in American politics helps explain why Trump remains so polarizing.
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Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Some of the most impactful campaigns in marketing history were polarizing.
—Katya Varbanova, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
There is a world in which the actress once known as America’s sweetheart can turn the tide her way, with voters nominating her for Best Actress as a vote of confidence toward her purposefully polarizing character.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025
Instead of the familiar pulsing heartbeat of a typical pulsar, this source emitted a steady radio signal, unusually compact and highly polarized.
—New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polarize
Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Some of the most impactful campaigns in marketing history were polarizing.
—Katya Varbanova, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
There is a world in which the actress once known as America’s sweetheart can turn the tide her way, with voters nominating her for Best Actress as a vote of confidence toward her purposefully polarizing character.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025
Instead of the familiar pulsing heartbeat of a typical pulsar, this source emitted a steady radio signal, unusually compact and highly polarized.
—New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polarize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polarize
Verb
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But if your peonies are flowering less over time or nearby plants are encroaching on their growing space, dividing them in fall is one simple solution.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Sep. 2025
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Every Democrat in the chamber supported the legislation while Republicans were evenly divided.—
Clara Hendrickson,
Freep.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kherson, Ukraine — Russia has launched a new bid to exert control over the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson by threatening key access roads with its drones and trying to split it in two by striking a vital bridge.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
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One major critique of this season is that there was no need to split its episodes in half.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Polarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polarize. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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