Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

polarize

[poh-luh-rahyz] / ˈpoʊ ləˌraɪz /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

If this spring’s “The Drama” still managed to polarize some viewers and critics with thorny yet palatable gender dynamics, “Obsession” is its dull cousin: all tell, no show.

From Salon ● Jun. 4, 2026

That’s because the monarch positions himself above politics and tries to be as uncontroversial as possible—a figure to unify rather than polarize.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026

These collisions cause them to polarize away from each other and move in opposite directions.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 19, 2024

I admired their desire to try to use media to show messy nuance and truths to bring people together, especially at a time when so many documentaries seem designed to polarize and demonize people.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2023

By a knowledge of the Principle of Vibration, as applied to Mental Phenomena, one may polarize his mind at any degree he wishes, thus gaining a perfect control over his mental states, moods, etc.

From The Kybalion A Study of The Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece by Three Initiates

“If some people don’t like the car because it polarizes, that’s OK,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Predictably, however, the one topic that invariably polarizes the online community is Nazi typewriters … especially those sporting the “special key.”

From Slate ● Mar. 16, 2024

Although his career polarizes opinions in his country despite his achievements, Álvarez is revered by the majority in Guadalajara.

From Washington Times ● May 2, 2023

Still, Macy’s portfolio of businesses from Bloomingdale’s to it’s off-price Backstage and wide range of prices offer a big advantage over other retailers as consumer behavior polarizes.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 23, 2022

Tourmaline polarizes light sent through its sides and becomes positively electrified at one end while being heated.

From The Machinery of the Universe Mechanical Conceptions of Physical Phenomena by A. E. (Amos Emerson) Dolbear

In today's polarized US politics, Pulido has aimed to bring people together across the aisle for support, sporting a campaign slogan that says: "I'm not team Red or team Blue. South Texas, I'm team You."

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026

In death, just as in life, Dolly Parton was a rare unifier in a highly polarized America.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

It showed that even in a polarized America, fractured by the Vietnam War, reconciliation and healing is always possible, a message that is once again desperately needed today.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026

Woodward, Myhrvold, and Horner found that circularly polarized and cross-polarized light can reveal a new type of growth ring.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 22, 2026

A mere speck in the sky, she took a reading on the polarized light of the sun.

From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

The film suffered from polarizing critical reviews, notching a 53% on aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

Researchers polish a section of pottery until it is roughly half the width of a human hair, allowing light from a polarizing microscope to pass through it.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

To them, Hargitay was, prima facie, the least challenging choice amid polarizing comedians and a shrinking roster of late-night hosts.

From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2026

A beef-tallow-induced identity crisis: Earlier this year, Luke Winkie set out to crack the biggest culinary mystery in America: Why has this old-fashioned cooking ingredient become so polarizing?

From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026

They wore shiny, textured gray-blue suits and wide ties and sported long sideburns and slightly too large brown- tinted polarizing glasses.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee


Vocabulary lists containing polarize

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training