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
Obviously, our times are very unstable and it’s all polarized and people have a lot of anxiety, more than ever probably.
—
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
Even as America becomes more polarized, the workplace is one spot where people from all different faiths regularly interact, giving rise to the potential for conflict.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Interestingly, unlike in other areas relating to voting, the parties haven’t polarized on this question.
—Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Charlie Kirk’s death shocked a nation that has become increasingly polarized around politics.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
The response online was swift and polarized, as discourse surrounding how millennials have been aging has been a prominent fixture on social media platforms for some time.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
At a time where the country’s really polarized.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 19 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
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
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
Even as America becomes more polarized, the workplace is one spot where people from all different faiths regularly interact, giving rise to the potential for conflict.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Interestingly, unlike in other areas relating to voting, the parties haven’t polarized on this question.
—Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Charlie Kirk’s death shocked a nation that has become increasingly polarized around politics.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
The response online was swift and polarized, as discourse surrounding how millennials have been aging has been a prominent fixture on social media platforms for some time.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
At a time where the country’s really polarized.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 19 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polarized
divided
Verb
-
Phillips also asked that their assets be divided up by the court as separate property, with no indication in the papers that the exes had a prenup in place.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
But like other governer races, voters are divided along partisan lines.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Polarized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polarized. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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