compartmentalize

[ kuhm-pahrt-men-tl-ahyz, kom-pahrt- ]

/ kəm pɑrtˈmɛn tlˌaɪz, ˌkɒm pɑrt- /

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See synonyms for compartmentalize on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), com·part·men·tal·ized, com·part·men·tal·iz·ing.

to divide into separate and isolated categories, sections, areas, or compartments: Instead of compartmentalizing tasks, employees can be trained broadly.

Psychology. to mentally separate or set aside (one’s incompatible or negative emotions, beliefs, or behaviors): Ripley, a serial killer, has the capacity to compartmentalize his thoughts, push his conscience conveniently aside, in order to live with himself. Unfortunately, the experiences at work are not easily compartmentalized—they stay with the nurses and affect every aspect of their lives.

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Also especially British, com·part·men·tal·ise .

Origin of compartmentalize

First recorded in 1920–25; compartmental + -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM compartmentalize

com·part·men·tal·i·za·tion

[kuhm-pahrt-men-tl-ahy-zey-shuhn, kom-pahrt-], /kəm pɑrtˌmɛn tlˌaɪˈzeɪ ʃən, ˌkɒm pɑrt-/, nounde·com·part·men·tal·ize, verb (used with object), de·com·part·men·tal·ized, de·com·part·men·tal·iz·ing.

Words nearby compartmentalize

compart, compartimento, compartment, compartmental, compartmentalization, compartmentalize, compartmentation, compass, compass card, compass course, compass deviation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use compartmentalize in a sentence

That we would compartmentalize our concerns — about labor exploitation and serious injury and toxic behavior — so we could hold on to those smiles.
Sports aren’t joyless. Just watch Sixers Piano Girl.|Dan Steinberg|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
Membrane-bounded organelles help to organize some of the contents, usefully compartmentalizing sets of materials and providing surfaces that enable important processes, such as the production of ATP, the biochemical fuel of cells.
A Newfound Source of Cellular Order in the Chemistry of Life|Viviane Callier|January 7, 2021|Quanta Magazine
In “Valhalla,” the story lines are compartmentalized, similar to what “Odyssey” did.
How ‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ makes sense of stories about Vikings, pirates and George Washington|Gene Park|January 1, 2021|Washington Post
There’s also the curious way it compartmentalizes the expression of genes within itself but leaves the construction of proteins outside.
Did Viruses Create the Nucleus? The Answer May Be Near.|Christie Wilcox|November 25, 2020|Quanta Magazine

Her Nurse Ratched is able to take these terrible traumas that happened to her, compartmentalize them and keep moving forward.
‘Ratched’ brings back iconic cinematic villain|Brian T. Carney|September 16, 2020|Washington Blade
I feel less—or at least differently—divided, almost forced not to compartmentalize.
All the Arguments Are Jewish|Don Futterman|April 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for compartmentalize

compartmentalize

compartmentalise

/ (ˌkɒmpɑːtˈmɛntəˌlaɪz) /

verb

(usually tr) to put or divide into (compartments, categories, etc), esp to an excessive degree

Derived forms of compartmentalize

compartmentalization or compartmentalisation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

compartmentalize

Origin of compartmentalize

OTHER WORDS FROM compartmentalize

Words nearby compartmentalize

Words related to compartmentalize

How to use compartmentalize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for compartmentalize

compartmentalise

Derived forms of compartmentalize