polarized

past tense of polarize
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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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 polarized Like so much else in America, the experience of fatherhood is polarized. Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 19 June 2026 Because in this historical moment, where ideas and feelings about immigration are so polarized, right? Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 June 2026 Americans become even more cynical and polarized. Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026 The glasses have polarized lenses and UV-blocking technology. Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 When feelings about the other side are this negatively polarized, then winning – even with a less-than-ideal candidate as your standard-bearer – becomes more crucial than ever. Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 18 June 2026 As a result, the far right has polarized what should be a nuanced debate, in much the same way that some American conservatives turned masking into a form of political sorting. Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 In an era when divisive politics and social media have emboldened people to voice their thoughts in a vacuum, campuses — once hallmarks for the exchange of ideas and opinions — are becoming increasingly polarized in the eyes of some Americans. Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026 Right-of-center justices formed coalitions Roman Martinez, a partner at Latham & Watkins who has argued 16 cases before the justices, said there’s no question the court is highly polarized, especially on the far right and left sides. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polarized
divided
Verb
  • Congressional Republicans were divided over the Supreme Court’s Tuesday decision to strike down an executive order seeking to limit birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment.
    Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 30 June 2026
  • Countless individual tread blocks, divided by wide grooves, wriggled around instead of digging in.
    Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

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

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