Meaning & use
polarizing
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Likely to make people split into two strongly opposed camps, with few feeling neutral.
Grammar: Often used before a noun or after be: a polarizing figure.
Patterns
- a polarizing figure
- a polarizing issue
The mayor is a polarizing figure in the city.
The new tax is a polarizing issue.
Her polarizing opinions fill every meeting with debate.
adjectivebefore a nounphysics
Producing a separation of light waves into one direction, as in polarizing filters.
Grammar: Used in physics before a noun: a polarizing filter.
Patterns
- polarizing filter
- polarizing lens
The photographer fitted a polarizing filter to cut glare.
Polarizing sunglasses reduce reflections from water.
A polarizing lens blocks light waves vibrating in certain directions.
Common combinations
- polarizing figure
- The coach is a polarizing figure among fans.
- polarizing issue
- Immigration is a polarizing issue in the election.
- deeply polarizing
- The decision proved deeply polarizing.
- polarizing effect
- Social media can have a polarizing effect on debates.
- polarizing filter
- A polarizing filter deepens the sky in photographs.
Synonyms and how they differ
- divisive
- Divisive is near in meaning, but it stresses causing disagreement within a group, while polarizing suggests two extreme sides.
- controversial
- Controversial means causing public argument and need not mean people split into two firm camps.
- contentious
- Contentious refers to an issue prone to arguments, a more formal and wider word than polarizing.
Opposites
Word family
- polarize verb
- to divide into two opposing groups
- polarization noun
- the process of dividing into opposing groups
- polar adjective
- relating to a pole, or directly opposite
- polarity noun
- the state of having two opposite poles or views
Commonly confused: polarizing or polarized?
polarizing vs polarized
Polarized describes a group already split, while polarizing describes what causes the split.
Practice
The singer's remarks were ______, with half the fans praising her honesty and the other half angry.
Choose one answer.
Polarizing means splitting opinion into two strong camps. Unifying and uncontroversial would mean the reverse.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “polarizing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.