sectarianize

The new law could sectarianize the community.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To divide into sects or factions: "sectarianize" means to cause a group, organization, or society to split into smaller, often conflicting, subgroups based on differences in belief, doctrine, or opinion, especially in religious or political contexts.
   • To make sectarian: To imbue something (e.g., a community, institution, or ideology) with sectarian characteristics, such as narrow-mindedness, exclusivity, or hostility toward other groups.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • The political leader's rhetoric sought to sectarianize the once-unified congregation. (To split the group into opposing factions.)
  • Attempts to sectarianize the educational system led to conflicts between different religious communities. (To make the system divided along sectarian lines.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be sectarianized": to become divided into sects or characterized by sectarianism.

  • The region was gradually sectarianized after years of ethnic tension. (The area became split into hostile factions.)

• "to sectarianize a debate": to introduce divisive, factional elements into a discussion.

  • They tried to sectarianize the scientific conference by bringing up irrelevant religious disputes. (They attempted to make the debate about sectarian differences.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sectarian (adj): relating to or characteristic of a sect or sects, often with a narrow-minded or exclusive attitude.

  • The sectarian violence in the city was condemned by international observers. (Violence based on religious or political factions.)

• Sectarianism (n): excessive devotion to a particular sect, especially in religion or politics, leading to conflict.

  • Sectarianism has long been a source of instability in the region. (The practice of favoring one's own group to the exclusion of others.)

• Sectarianize → Sectarianization (n): the process of making something sectarian.

  • The sectarianization of the media contributed to the polarization of society. (The process of dividing media along factional lines.)

Synonyms

• Fragment: to break into smaller parts.
• Factionalize: to divide into competing groups or factions.
• Polarize: to cause to split into opposing extremes.

Phrasal Verbs

• Sectarianize off: to separate a subgroup from a larger group based on sectarian differences.
  • The radical wing attempted to sectarianize off from the main party. (To break away and form a separate faction.)

Related Idioms

• Divide and conquer: a strategy of creating conflict between groups to maintain control, often involving sectarianization.

  • The colonial power used a divide-and-conquer policy to sectarianize the local population. (To split the people into rival groups to weaken them.)

• Sow discord: to cause disagreement or conflict, often by sectarianizing.

  • His speeches were designed to sow discord and sectarianize the community. (To create division and hostility.)