polemicize

verb

po·​lem·​i·​cize pə-ˈle-mə-ˌsīz How to pronounce polemicize (audio)
polemicized; polemicizing

intransitive verb

: to engage in controversy : deliver a polemic

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polemicize was in 1881

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Polemicize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polemicize. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster