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
In Williams, plaintiffs alleged that those district lines diluted minority voting strength in violation of the state constitutional requirement to protect minority voters in communities where minority voters can’t elect their preferred candidates when voting is highly polarized.
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Jeffrey M. Wice, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap have announced an April 24 release date for their new LP Fenian, which will be their first album since a series of polarizing political statements threatened to derail their career.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2026
Being polarized too far on either side feels foolhardy; while an aggressive ban might be too much for how nuanced and new this technology is, that doesn’t mean DSPs should throw their hands up and let culture-appropriating refuse pollute popular playlists.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026
There’s never a fight in the audience, and there’s nothing polarized at a Willie Nelson show.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for polarize
Jeffrey M. Wice, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap have announced an April 24 release date for their new LP Fenian, which will be their first album since a series of polarizing political statements threatened to derail their career.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2026
Being polarized too far on either side feels foolhardy; while an aggressive ban might be too much for how nuanced and new this technology is, that doesn’t mean DSPs should throw their hands up and let culture-appropriating refuse pollute popular playlists.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026
There’s never a fight in the audience, and there’s nothing polarized at a Willie Nelson show.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for polarize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polarize
Verb
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Also on Wednesday, a split LCRA Board of Directors advanced an update to the authority’s Water Management Plan, which dictates how water from Lakes Travis and Buchanan is divided between city water utilities like Austin Water and coastal rice farmers downstream.—
Alex Driggars,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Feb. 2026
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Once dark and divided into too many small spaces, this Victorian house has benefited from a careful redesign entrusted to the duo at Penrose Tilbury.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Karaban almost had a costly turnover on an inbound play with 14 seconds left, but the Huskies fouled up three and Mulready split his free throw attempts, setting up the game-clinching freebies from the Huskies’ captain.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2026
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Although the servicing stop for the California Zephyr is too short to explore beyond the platform, Denver is a great overnight choice for passengers splitting up the 43-hour journey.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Polarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polarize. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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