polarized

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.

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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 Bag designs were more polarized, with oversize silhouettes and revivals of heritage styles juxtaposed to fantasy minaudière designs, sculptural clutches and embellished mini bags displaying brands’ craftsmanship and doubling as objects of art. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 The awards buzz may prove tough to come by at this point, given that Digger was hit with a C+ CinemaScore from audiences, landing as one of the lowest grades for Cruise’s career, and has polarized critics. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026 The uncertainty of this moment feels more fractured and more polarized, driven by policy shifts, funding instability, technological disruption and widening inequities that disproportionately affect low-income communities of color. — Philip Weinberg, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Part memoir, part how-to guide for heated political conversations, it’s perfectly timed for what could be one of the most expensive and most polarized midterm elections in modern history. — Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 Critics have been polarized by the museum, with many in the film trade singing its praises while others in the art world have panned it. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 9 Sep. 2026 Today’s media landscape has become far more saturated and polarized, as well as faster paced, in the decades since Grossman was a reporter. — Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026 In the last 25 years, the American electorate has become more polarized, distrustful, and apathetic. — Michael E. Neagle, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026 Ben’s view Analysis of China is often so polarized that a casual observer might get the impression that Beijing is both an unstoppable force on the verge of global domination and a precarious dictatorship on the brink of collapse. — Ben Bland, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polarized
divided
Verb
  • And so the record is divided between tracks that capture the rush of losing yourself in a sea of bodies and the pain of being caught out at last call with no one to return home to.
    — Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Yet Perrette and Decker’s meaty roles still leave gaps – slightly lower down the international chain, questions remain over how territories are divided up and who looks after what.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Polarized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polarized. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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