polarize

verb

ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz How to pronounce polarize (audio)
Definition of polarizenext
as in to divide
to cause (people) to break up into opposing groups A hot button issue that is sure to polarize the public.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of polarize Initial ticket sales are concerning for the studio because the movie’s polarizing reception, as well as the intense competition during the peak of summer movie season, could limit its theatrical staying power. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 28 June 2026 Populist Abelardo de la Espriella narrowly won a polarizing presidential runoff in Colombia Sunday. — CBS News, 24 June 2026 While immigration becomes increasingly polarizing in the United States and Europe, Africa's leading economy is also confronting the issue. — ABC News, 24 June 2026 Keiko Fujimori’s political identity remains inseparable from the legacy of her father, one of the most consequential and polarizing leaders in modern Peruvian history. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for polarize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polarize
  1. divide
  2. split
Verb
  • The revelation has divided Jefferson descendants for decades.
    — Briana Stewart, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • The sale sees the property divided into three lots with two buildable, giving the opportunity to create a treasurable family compound in rural seclusion just a 30-minute drive from the island’s main towns.
    — Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of divide
Verb
  • The result is uncommon room layouts like the tri-suite king room equipped with two twin-sized beds and a king bed split by a privacy divider that doubles as a playful art installation.
    — Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Cutright, who was not charged with murder, split from Devastating Pyrotechnics to form Blackstar Fireworks on the property in 2023.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of split

Browse Nearby Words

polarizations
polarize
polarized
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Cite this Entry

“Polarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polarize. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on polarize

Nglish: Translation of polarize for Spanish Speakers

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