as in divided
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 polarized
How polarized is the electorate?
—
David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Wisconsin Supreme Court races are officially nonpartisan but have become increasingly polarized and expensive in recent years.
—Mary Spicuzza, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
And, as media has become polarized, many fewer places are doing that.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
If the light is polarized in a radially-symmetric fashion, that’s an example of an E-mode (electric) polarization; if the light is polarized in either a clockwise or counterclockwise fashion, that’s an example of a B-mode (magnetic) polarization.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 24 Sep. 2025
This lightwear pair at Amazon is on sale for $12—a serious deal considering they’re polarized to ensure UV protection, feature a coating that helps protect against water on rainy days, and have a one-piece nosepad that fits snugly on your face without digging in like some of the metal varieties.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2025
But both further polarized a nation already deeply divided by political ideology and touched off a movement to punish those whose views did not fall in line with the prevailing sentiment of the moment.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
The backlash over Kimmel's comments comes at a moment when America is deeply polarized over free speech.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Across most advanced democracies, electorates are increasingly polarized, resulting in dwindling support for the political center and the delegitimization of moderate parties and governments.
—Stewart Patrick, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Wisconsin Supreme Court races are officially nonpartisan but have become increasingly polarized and expensive in recent years.
—Mary Spicuzza, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
And, as media has become polarized, many fewer places are doing that.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
If the light is polarized in a radially-symmetric fashion, that’s an example of an E-mode (electric) polarization; if the light is polarized in either a clockwise or counterclockwise fashion, that’s an example of a B-mode (magnetic) polarization.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 24 Sep. 2025
This lightwear pair at Amazon is on sale for $12—a serious deal considering they’re polarized to ensure UV protection, feature a coating that helps protect against water on rainy days, and have a one-piece nosepad that fits snugly on your face without digging in like some of the metal varieties.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2025
But both further polarized a nation already deeply divided by political ideology and touched off a movement to punish those whose views did not fall in line with the prevailing sentiment of the moment.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
The backlash over Kimmel's comments comes at a moment when America is deeply polarized over free speech.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Across most advanced democracies, electorates are increasingly polarized, resulting in dwindling support for the political center and the delegitimization of moderate parties and governments.
—Stewart Patrick, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polarized
divided
Verb
-
The votes of the parties that did not make it into parliament will be divided proportionately, meaning PAS will end up with several seats more than a bare majority of 51.—
John E. Herbst,
Time,
4 Oct. 2025
-
While critics were divided at the time, Casper became a box office hit and earned its place as a nostalgic favorite for '90s kids.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Polarized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polarized. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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