{"id":45596,"date":"2024-12-11T21:06:29","date_gmt":"2024-12-11T21:06:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/?p=45596"},"modified":"2025-03-11T13:17:29","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T13:17:29","slug":"polarization-merriam-webster-word-of-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2024\/12\/11\/polarization-merriam-webster-word-of-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is \u2018Polarization\u2019 Merriam-Webster\u2019s 2024 Word of the Year?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Merriam-Webster\u2019s dictionary chose <\/span>polarization<\/span><\/i> as their <\/span>2024 Word of the Year<\/span><\/a>. Our divides take up so much of our thoughts and focus these days, so it makes perfect sense. After all, we\u2019ve been shouting it from the rooftops for a while.<\/span><\/p>\n

In one way, the choice is a depressing reminder of where we\u2019re at, as a people. But in another more positive and hopeful sense, this can perhaps be a call for us, as a society, to talk more about this problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because we do need to talk about it more<\/span><\/i>. We need to talk about it more in depth, with seriousness, and humility \u2014 and not just talk superficially and in passing, as is often done by pundits and leaders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200bMerriam-Webster chooses the word of the year based on an increase in searches for that and related words. As they put it: \u201cSearch volume on Merriam-Webster.com throughout the year reflected the desire of Americans to better understand the complex state of affairs in our country and around the world.\u201d<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>This tracks on our end: <\/span>Our research<\/span><\/a> tells us 87% of Americans are tired of the toxic political division in this country.<\/span><\/p>\n

Merriam-Webster\u2019s <\/span>entry for <\/span>polarization<\/span><\/i><\/a> reads, \u201cdivision into two sharply distinct opposites; especially, a state in which the opinions, beliefs, or interests of a group or society no longer range along a continuum but become concentrated at opposing extremes.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One example sentence they give is \u201cthe relationship between partisan polarization and legislative gridlock is direct, with stalemate more frequent as the political center shrinks.\u201d Ugh. Tell us something we don\u2019t know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do \u201cboth sides\u201d agree about this word?\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Merriam-Webster\u2019s editor, Peter Sokolowski, <\/span>said <\/span><\/a>the word is used by people across the political spectrum and, \u201cin a little bit ironic twist to the word, it\u2019s something that actually everyone agrees on.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But we\u2019d disagree with Peter on that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even among people who use the word \u201cpolarization,\u201d many would deny the framing that \u201cboth sides have grown more extreme.\u201d Many do not see our toxic divides as a \u201cboth sides\u201d problem; they see it as largely \u2014 or even solely \u2014 a problem caused by the \u201cother side.\u201d (For example, Republicans focus on Democrat-associated beliefs they see as having <\/span>grown more extreme<\/span><\/a>, while Democrats focus on the <\/span>rhetoric<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>actions<\/span><\/a> by Trump and his allies they see as extreme and dangerous.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Leaving aside who is more right or wrong, it\u2019s easy to construct <\/span><\/i>different narratives<\/span><\/i><\/a> about the nature of a conflict.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some people use the word <\/span>polarization<\/span><\/i> to politely discuss our divides without assigning blame \u2014 even as the person using the word and their audience can have their own ideas of who is to blame.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New Years resolution: In 2025, let\u2019s talk more about polarization<\/b><\/h3>\n

We see this Word of the Year as a call to talk with more nuance and vulnerability about this problem \u2014 not to treat the word superficially and simplistically. We need more people to see and acknowledge how they and their allies contribute to our divides.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, our <\/span>distorted, overly pessimistic views of each other<\/span><\/a> are a major source of contributions to toxicity. Put simply, we constantly anger each other with false, insulting, inflammatory statements. We need to be brave enough to admit and face that, for a start.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As we often say, you can join <\/span>the movement to decrease political toxicity<\/span><\/a> while still thinking, \u201cThe other side is worse.\u201d All it takes to join this movement is acknowledging that there are things we can all do to help build a healthier, less toxic future. All it takes is a willingness to participate and the courage to question your assumptions about others and your instincts on how to disagree.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Want to dive into more nuance on this word? <\/span><\/i>Read \u201c4 Myths About Toxic Polarization.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Stay in the loop about efforts to overcome our toxic divides by <\/span><\/i>signing up for our newsletter<\/span><\/i><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Merriam-Webster\u2019s dictionary chose polarization as their 2024 Word of the Year. Our divides take up so much of our thoughts and focus these days, so it makes perfect sense. After all, we\u2019ve been shouting it from the rooftops for a while. In one way, the choice is a depressing reminder of where we\u2019re at, as…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":45591,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"collection_feed":[],"type_feed":[83],"class_list":["post-45596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhy is \u2018Polarization\u2019 Merriam-Webster\u2019s 2024 Word of the Year? - Builders<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2024\/12\/11\/polarization-merriam-webster-word-of-year\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why is \u2018Polarization\u2019 Merriam-Webster\u2019s 2024 Word of the Year? - Builders\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Merriam-Webster\u2019s dictionary chose polarization as their 2024 Word of the Year. 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