polarizing

[ poh-luh-rahy-zing ]

/ ˈpoʊ ləˌraɪ zɪŋ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for polarizing on Thesaurus.com

adjective

tending to divide people into sharply opposing factions: Here are some tips to keep polarizing political discourse from disrupting your workplace.

causing polarization of light or similar radiation: If there is glare, you can use a polarizing filter on the camera to reduce or even remove it.

causing magnetic or electric polarity in a body or system: The control system consists of a feedback loop that uses real-time polarizing electric fields as a controlling force.

noun

the act, fact, or practice of dividing people into sharply opposing factions: If rational argument fails, he can always fall back on the techniques of mockery and polarizing.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Also especially British, po·lar·is·ing .

Origin of polarizing

polariz(e) + -ing² for the adjective senses; polariz(e) + -ing¹ for the noun sense

OTHER WORDS FROM polarizing

non·po·lar·iz·ing, adjective

Words nearby polarizing

polarization, polarization charge, polarize, polarized, polarizer, polarizing, polarizing filter, polarizing microscope, polar lights, polar molecule, polar nucleus

How to use polarizing in a sentence

On this flight, it was a Baby Yoda doll, chosen in an attempt to provide a bit of levity during a tumultuous year, rocked by a pandemic, civil unrest and a polarizing election.
Astronauts on the space station discuss SpaceX’s rocket, sleeping quarters and Baby Yoda|Christian Davenport|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
Mitch McConnell is not favored to remain Senate majority leader because America is polarized.
The crisis isn’t too much polarization. It’s too little democracy.|Ezra Klein|November 12, 2020|Vox
The pandemic has become such a polarizing topic in the weeks leading up to Election Day that Fauci has received death threats, and his wife and children have been harassed, he said.
State and local leaders order new restrictions amid autumn’s coronavirus surge|Joel Achenbach, Karin Brulliard|October 29, 2020|Washington Post
The reality is that in the modern polarized Senate, both will likely have their party’s — or their president’s — backs when it counts.
The surprisingly close Michigan Senate race, explained|Andrew Prokop|October 16, 2020|Vox

While Facebook has focused on content moderation, others have said that the focus on removing violating posts risks missing how social media algorithms can increasingly promote and polarize people into bubbles of conspiracy theory-focused content.
The member of Congress who’s trying to stop QAnon|Rebecca Heilweil|October 9, 2020|Vox
Take one part Kim Kardashian, perhaps our most polarizing superstar, and add oil and champagne.
Kim Kardashian Cheekily Breaks the Internet|Kevin O’Keeffe|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Iggy Azalea herself might not even understand how polarizing and important a figure Iggy Azalea has become.
The Cultural Crimes of Iggy Azalea|Amy Zimmerman|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Along with crowds, Cereal Killer has also drawn polarizing responses from the public and the media.
Cereal Cafe’s Big Bowl of Hate|David Levesley|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He became as polarizing a figure as the war itself, court jester to Nixon and corporate shill to boot.
When Your Comic Hero Is an Alleged Rapist|Doug McIntyre|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She certainly was the most polarizing personality in late night.
Chelsea Handler Ends 'Chelsea Lately' With One Last Middle Finger|Kevin Fallon|August 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yes, he had told me it was all accomplished by polarizing the steel and iron of the projectile!
Pharaoh's Broker|Ellsworth Douglass
The Iceland spar has the power of polarizing light and producing great richness and variety of color.
Browning's Shorter Poems|Robert Browning
It will be subsequently shown how this simple apparatus may be employed to determine the 'polarizing angle' of a liquid.
Six Lectures on Light|John Tyndall
This beautiful law is usually thus expressed: The index of refraction of any substance is the tangent of its polarizing angle.
Six Lectures on Light|John Tyndall
Polarizing contact-lenses—prescription or optically neutral.
Makers|Cory Doctorow