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
Privately, party officials admit that fear of a snap poll weighed heavily in their choice with the PS risking the loss of seats in a political landscape polarized between the far right and the hard left.
—
Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Just like its subject matter, After The Hunt is polarizing.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 10 Oct. 2025
Even so, Ortega’s look at the Wednesday premiere in London with bleached brows, shimmery smoky eyes, and oxblood lips was polarizing.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 8 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, in the wake of the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, politics has become increasingly polarized, with debates about free speech raging.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polarize
Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Just like its subject matter, After The Hunt is polarizing.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 10 Oct. 2025
Even so, Ortega’s look at the Wednesday premiere in London with bleached brows, shimmery smoky eyes, and oxblood lips was polarizing.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 8 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, in the wake of the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, politics has become increasingly polarized, with debates about free speech raging.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polarize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polarize
Verb
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Discussions have been held about dividing Madrid’s football operations from their business operations and letting speculators invest in the latter — although how (or if) that would work in practice is a moot point.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Most herbaceous perennials that spread or clump can flourish when divided every few years, such as hostas, coneflowers, daylilies, phlox, and bee balm.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In a rare example of agency for a beneficiary community, 21 emerging Indigenous leaders recently crafted selection criteria, evaluated applicants and picked two dozen finalists to split a pool of $720,000.—
Fortune,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
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The dying relative, Mitch explained, was willing to take the fall for Scott’s killing; then someone else would turn him in, claim the reward money, and split it with them.—
Eren Orbey,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Polarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polarize. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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