sexualize

[ sek-shoo-uh-lahyz or, especially British, seks-yoo- ]

/ ˈsɛk ʃu əˌlaɪz or, especially British, ˈsɛks yu- /

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verb (used with object), sex·u·al·ized, sex·u·al·iz·ing.

to render sexual; endow with sexual characteristics.

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Also especially British, sex·u·al·ise .

Origin of sexualize

First recorded in 1830–40; sexual + -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM sexualize

sex·u·al·i·za·tion [sek-shoo-uh-lahy-zey-shuhn, seks-yoo-] /ˌsɛk ʃu ə laɪˈzeɪ ʃən, ˌsɛks yu-/ especially British, sex·u·al·i·sa·tion, nounde·sex·u·al·ize; especially British, de·sex·u·al·ise, verb (used with object), de·sex·u·al·ized, de·sex·u·al·iz·ing or (especially British) de·sex·u·al·ised, de·sex·u·al·is·ing.

Words nearby sexualize

sexual harassment, sexual infantilism, sexual intercourse, sexuality, sexualization, sexualize, sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual orientation, sexual predator, sexual relations

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

How to use sexualize in a sentence

Though her design was sexualized, Croft was a powerful, glamorous woman to be feared and admired.
The women who brought Lara Croft to life|Stacey Henley|October 28, 2021|Washington Post
In the book, the last text — the sexualized texts that Tricia has gotten was probably around Easter day.
Brad Raffensperger Says GOP Lawmakers Lack ‘Moral Courage’ On The Big Lie|Galen Druke|October 28, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
We need to stop sexualizing women in sports and start to appreciate their performance.
Media Outlets, Stop Sexualizing Women in Sports|awise|October 18, 2021|Outside Online
From youth pastors finding a new conduit for conversion to believers taking sexualized trends and turning them wholesome, TikTok has a proselytizing subsect — albeit one that is pretty easily ignored if you just keep on swiping.
TikTok’s Strange (and Wonderful) Subcultures|Sean Culligan|June 23, 2021|Ozy

Kikuchi played Chieko Wataya, who is deaf and mute and does not have any speaking lines, and whose role was also sexualized.
The Crucial History Behind Yuh-Jung Youn's Oscar Win|Kat Moon|April 23, 2021|Time
This maternal sensuality, she adds, is in no way an attempt to sexualize her children or herself.
Elinor Carucci Captures the Messy, Beautiful Reality of Motherhood|Amy Zimmerman|November 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Here, Donigan seems to sexualize their work, and inject some gender and power issues into their art-about-art premises.
Milk, the Other White Fluid|Blake Gopnik|May 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for sexualize

sexualize

sexualise

/ (ˈsɛksjʊəˌlaɪz) /

verb

to make or become sexual or sexually aware

to give or acquire sexual associations

Derived forms of sexualize

sexualization or sexualisation, 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