Definition of vulgarizenext
as in to popularize
to use so much as to make less appealing the composer's masterpiece has been hopelessly vulgarized by its use in countless TV commercials

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vulgarize His versions were full-blooded, with lush strings and reasonably large orchestras — and, purists alleged — vulgarizing distortions. — BostonGlobe.com, 28 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vulgarize
Verb
  • Keurig’s new single-serve coffee machine delivers the same convenience that helped popularize its appliances but without the use of recyclable pods made from plastic and aluminum.
    — Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 2 Oct. 2026
  • As the author of A Theory of Semiotics (1976) and Semiotics and the Philosophy of Language (1984), Eco did more than any other scholar to establish and popularize the field in his home country.
    — Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Despite being more prevalent now than ever, Chinese cuisine is still at times stereotyped or devalued.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • This phenomenon was most prominently displayed after George Floyd's death in 2020, when police officers were stereotyped across the country and the Black murder rate saw a 2,500-victim increase from the year before.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • There are a handful of very effective jump scares, especially early on, but Cregger wisely doesn’t overuse them.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
  • But 1984 is continuously overused by fans as evidence of what the program can achieve.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Imai had pitched twice in the previous 19 days, occupying a roster spot while leaving his fellow relievers overexposed.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • While some use leverage strategically, many are overexposed, risking severe losses when markets inevitably correct, proving even good ideas can fail without surviving volatility.
    — Andrew Graham, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Powerful cutters have whirred to life on a giant drill that will begin boring a new train tunnel under the Hudson River connecting Manhattan to New Jersey.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The twin tubes, bored at a rate of roughly 30 feet per day, will take about a year to dig.
    — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Vulgarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vulgarize. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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