polarize
Split into camps
Polarize means to divide sharply into opposing camps.
Political issues polarize voters; controversial statements polarize communities.
The debate polarized the country.
The word comes from physics, where polarizing a light wave restricts its vibration to a single plane—an apt metaphor for reducing complex positions to stark either-or alternatives.
Formal organizational fracture
- riftCrack or estrangement
- splitSeparation into parts
- factionGroup within group
- wedgeTapered splitting tool
cleave · bifurcate · partition · disunite · estrange · alienate · fracture · sunder
Porous separation device
- lensLight-focusing curved glass
- sunglassesTinted eye protection
- glareFierce stare or brightness
- polaroidSelf-developing photograph
LCD · photographic · transmission · reflection · dichroic · analyzer · circular · linear
Causing sharp disagreement
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
- incendiaryCausing or designed for burning
hot-button · flashpoint · partisan · tribal · charged · galvanizing · talking-point · fearmongering
Separated opposite charges
- electrodeConductive interface point
- anodeOxidation electrode
- cathodeElectrode current exits through
- dielectricPolarizable electrical non-conductor
capacitor · electron · ion · voltage · current · electrostatic · piezoelectric · spin
Consisting of two parts
- dichotomyDivision into contrasting parts
- dualityTwofold nature
- oppositesTerms with contrary meanings
- antithesisDirect opposite; contrasting juxtaposition
spectrum · yin-yang · north-south · complementary · inverse · antipode · counterpoint · flip-side
Convert to extreme ideology
- hardlineStubbornly inflexible in stance
- far-leftExtreme progressive political position
- far-rightExtremist political ideology
- extremistOne holding fringe views
zealot · fundamentalist · ultraconservative · ultraliberal · militant · dogmatic · uncompromising · entrenched
schism
Formal organizational fracture
wedge · cleave · bifurcate · partition · disunite · estrange · alienate · fracture · sunder · splinter
filter
Porous separation device
- lensLight-focusing curved glass
- sunglassesTinted eye protection
- glareFierce stare or brightness
polaroid · LCD · photographic · transmission · reflection · dichroic · analyzer · circular · linear · elliptical
divisive
Causing sharp disagreement
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
incendiary · hot-button · flashpoint · partisan · tribal · charged · galvanizing · talking-point · fearmongering · demagoguery
dipole
Separated opposite charges
dielectric · capacitor · electron · ion · voltage · current · electrostatic · piezoelectric · spin · magnetization
binary
Consisting of two parts
antithesis · spectrum · yin-yang · north-south · complementary · inverse · antipode · counterpoint · flip-side · two-sided
radicalize
Convert to extreme ideology
- hardlineStubbornly inflexible in stance
- far-leftExtreme progressive political position
- far-rightExtremist political ideology
extremist · zealot · fundamentalist · ultraconservative · ultraliberal · militant · dogmatic · uncompromising · entrenched · intransigent
polarizeunite
Bring together as one
unify · bring together · reconcile · bridge · harmonize
polarizecentralize
Unify under single control
equalize · balance · homogenize · disperse · spread
- polarized sunglassesFiltered lenses reducing glare
- polarized lensesLight-filtering eyewear components
- polarizing figureOne who divides opinion
- polarized lensLight filter blocking reflections
- political polarizationExtreme ideological divergence
- polarized glassesEyewear reducing reflected glare
polarization, polarity, polarizing, polarized, polarizes, bipolarity, depolarize, polarise, polarised