POLARIZED Synonyms: 20 Similar and Opposite Words

polarized

verb

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.

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 polarized The country became so polarized that in August senior IDF officials warned lawmakers that the readiness of the military had begun to weaken. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026 Critics say Yoon’s campaign further polarized the country by injecting falsehoods into already bitter political disputes and making compromise increasingly difficult. — ABC News, 7 July 2026 Americans are deeply divided and intensely polarized, with pessimism at or near a multidecade high. — Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 4 July 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 The glasses have polarized lenses and UV-blocking technology. — Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 1 July 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 Like so much else in America, the experience of fatherhood is polarized. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 19 June 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for polarized

divided

Verb

While Walmart isn’t an official sponsor of the World Cup, either, taking advantage of the social media chatter helps the company glom onto the tournament without paying FIFA for the privilege – especially when attention spans are divided.

— Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
Although the numbers on the chassis were divided into various unrelated intervals, the transmissions appeared to be numbered sequentially, as were the tank guns, heaters, road wheels and turret engines.

— Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 7 July 2026

Definition of divided

Browse Nearby Words

polarize

polarized

polarizes

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Polarized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polarized. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of polarized

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on polarized

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

effulgence

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes