polarize
verb
po·lar·ize
ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz 
polarized; polarizing
1
: to cause to vibrate in a definite pattern
polarize light waves
2
: to give physical polarity to
3
: to break up into opposing factions or groupings
a campaign that polarized the electorate
4
: concentrate sense 1
recreate a cohesive rock community by polarizing … an amorphous, fragmented audience—
Ellen Willis
Ellen Willis
: to become polarized
Synonyms
Examples of polarize in a Sentence
The war has polarized the nation.
The current debate polarizes along lines of class and race.
Recent Examples on the Web
That leaves other major gun laws vulnerable at a time when the U.S. surgeon general has declared gun violence a public health crisis and as a new study reports that gun rulings have become more politically polarized, experts said.
—Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 7 July 2024
Amid a polarizing election year and before the Fourth of July, several Americans shared what the American flag means to them.
—Rachel Barber, The Courier-Journal, 3 July 2024
By Ben Rosenstock July 1, 2024 10:23 PM EDT
Today, all six seasons of Lost drop on Netflix, sure to ignite a whole new round of discourse about its famously polarizing series finale.
—Ben Rosenstock, TIME, 2 July 2024
After all, the electorate is highly polarized, such that most voters considering one of the major-party contenders already lean toward one or the other candidate, and aren't particularly likely to jump ship.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 2 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for polarize 
Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 7 July 2024
Amid a polarizing election year and before the Fourth of July, several Americans shared what the American flag means to them.
—Rachel Barber, The Courier-Journal, 3 July 2024
By Ben Rosenstock July 1, 2024 10:23 PM EDT
Today, all six seasons of Lost drop on Netflix, sure to ignite a whole new round of discourse about its famously polarizing series finale.
—Ben Rosenstock, TIME, 2 July 2024
After all, the electorate is highly polarized, such that most voters considering one of the major-party contenders already lean toward one or the other candidate, and aren't particularly likely to jump ship.
—Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 2 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for polarize
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'polarize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Polarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polarize. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
polarize
verb
po·lar·ize
ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz
polarized; polarizing
1
: to cause to vibrate (as light waves) in a definite pattern
2
: to give physical polarity to
3
: to break up into opposing groups
4
: to become polarized
polarization
noun
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