spiritualize

especially British, spir·it·u·al·ise

[spir-i-choo-uh-lahyz]

verb (used with object)

spiritualized, spiritualizing 

1. to make spiritual.

2. to invest with a spiritual meaning.

spiritualize

/ ˈspɪrɪtjʊəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to make spiritual or infuse with spiritual content

Other Word Forms

• spiritualization noun
• spiritualizer noun
• despiritualization noun
• despiritualize verb (used with object)
• respiritualize verb (used with object)
• unspiritualized adjective
• unspiritualizing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiritualize¹

First recorded in 1625–35; spiritual + -ize

Example Sentences

In their churches, food banks, recovery services and community meetings, local NAR leaders offer individual and highly spiritualized explanations for this country’s systemic crises of poverty, homelessness, hunger and addiction.

Read more on Salon

Maybe they grew rapidly because her suffering was spiritualized away.

Read more on Salon

He added, “There is not a single degradation of the body which I must not try and make into a spiritualizing of the soul.”

Read more on New York Times

Some white churches “have the luxury to say, ‘Let’s just spiritualize everything and not get involved in politics,’” Alick said.

Read more on Seattle Times

But there is a genuine threat to democracy when citizens spiritualize their political differences.

Read more on Washington Post

Related Words

• acquaint 
• enlighten 
• ennoble 
• humanize 
• idealize 
• refine 
• sophisticate 
• tame