Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb polarize

3 senses of polarize

Sense 1
polarize, polarise -- (cause to vibrate in a definite pattern; "polarize light waves")
       => change, alter, modify -- (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue")

Sense 2
polarize, polarise -- (cause to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions)
       => separate, disunite, divide, part -- (force, take, or pull apart; "He separated the fighting children"; "Moses parted the Red Sea")

Sense 3
polarize, polarise -- (become polarized in a conflict or contrasting situation)
       => separate, divide, part -- (come apart; "The two pieces that we had glued separated")