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
Relevance
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
In Williams, plaintiffs alleged that those district lines diluted minority voting strength in violation of the state constitutional requirement to protect minority voters in communities where minority voters can’t elect their preferred candidates when voting is highly polarized.
—
Jeffrey M. Wice, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap have announced an April 24 release date for their new LP Fenian, which will be their first album since a series of polarizing political statements threatened to derail their career.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2026
Being polarized too far on either side feels foolhardy; while an aggressive ban might be too much for how nuanced and new this technology is, that doesn’t mean DSPs should throw their hands up and let culture-appropriating refuse pollute popular playlists.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026
There’s never a fight in the audience, and there’s nothing polarized at a Willie Nelson show.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for polarize
Jeffrey M. Wice, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap have announced an April 24 release date for their new LP Fenian, which will be their first album since a series of polarizing political statements threatened to derail their career.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2026
Being polarized too far on either side feels foolhardy; while an aggressive ban might be too much for how nuanced and new this technology is, that doesn’t mean DSPs should throw their hands up and let culture-appropriating refuse pollute popular playlists.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026
There’s never a fight in the audience, and there’s nothing polarized at a Willie Nelson show.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for polarize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polarize
Verb
-
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said the two men were hit near the ceasefire line that divides Gaza, with one half under Israeli military control.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Developer Scott Gibbel had initially presented plans for three buildings on the site, but, following mixed reviews from commissioners at a meeting in December, the proposal was revised, with a 218,700 square-foot structure divided into two separate buildings.—
Jennifer Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of one big weekly grocery trip, shoppers are splitting their carts between a warehouse club and a traditional supermarket.—
Alexandria Mansfield,
Florida Times-Union,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Michigan State starting on Valentine’s Day, the Bruins wrapped up their three-game homestand on a positive note after splitting the first two, a one-point, double-overtime loss to Indiana followed by a 22-point blowout of Rutgers in which five players scored in double digits.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Polarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polarize. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
