polarizing

From the verb polarize: (⇒ conjugate)

polarizing is: ⓘ

v pres p (US & UK)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

po•lar•ize /ˈpoʊləˌraɪz/   v., -ized, -iz•ing. 

1. Electricity [~ + object] to cause polarization in.
2. to (cause to) be divided into sharply opposing factions or groups: [~ + object]
   The issue has polarized voters.
   [no object]
   The country polarized around that issue.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

po•lar•ize  (pō′lə rīz′), v., -ized, -iz•ing. 
v.t. 

1. Electricity to cause polarization in.
2. to divide into sharply opposing factions, political groups, etc.:
   The controversy has polarized voters into proabortion and antiabortion groups.
3. Electricity to give polarity to.

v.i. 

4. Electricity to become polarized.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] po′lar•ise′. 

• polar + -ize 1805–15

po′lar•iz′a•ble, adj. 
po′lar•iz′a•bil′i•ty, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

polarize, polarise / ˈpəʊləˌraɪz/ verb

1. to acquire or cause to acquire polarity
2. to acquire or cause to acquire polarization
3. to cause people to adopt extreme opposing positions: to polarize opinion