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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of polarize
At a time where the country’s really polarized.
—
Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
The growth of artificial intelligence has been polarizing; some people have rejected it, and others have embraced it.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 16 Oct. 2025
This is a terrific signature scent that manages to make a statement without polarizing the room.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
For Maud Pupato, buying director for luxury womenswear, accessories and footwear at Printemps, customers’ demands remain polarized.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polarize
Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
The growth of artificial intelligence has been polarizing; some people have rejected it, and others have embraced it.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 16 Oct. 2025
This is a terrific signature scent that manages to make a statement without polarizing the room.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
For Maud Pupato, buying director for luxury womenswear, accessories and footwear at Printemps, customers’ demands remain polarized.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polarize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polarize
Verb
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Qianlong took a page from the design of private gardens in southern China to make the layout more compact, and divided the site into four connected courtyards, two of which are currently open to the public, from south to north.—
Fred He,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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Engineers divide conventional aircraft into three main lightning zones.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Sometimes lightning hits the mountainside and splits or burns a tree.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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Jeanty, initially lined up in the right slot, motioned into the backfield, leaving Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers lined up to that side, with receivers Tyler Lockett and Tre Tucker split to the left.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Polarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polarize. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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