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compartmentalize
[ kuhm-pahrt-men-tl-ahyz, kom-pahrt- ]
verb (used with object)
- to divide into separate and isolated categories, sections, areas, or compartments: compartment:
Instead of compartmentalizing tasks, employees can be trained broadly.
- Psychology. to mentally separate or set aside (one’s incompatible or negative emotions, beliefs, or behaviors): Unfortunately, the experiences at work are not easily compartmentalized—they stay with the nurses and affect every aspect of their lives.
Ripley, a serial killer, has the capacity to compartmentalize his thoughts, push his conscience conveniently aside, in order to live with himself.
Unfortunately, the experiences at work are not easily compartmentalized—they stay with the nurses and affect every aspect of their lives.
compartmentalize
/ ˌkɒmpɑːtˈmɛntəˌlaɪz /
verb
- usually tr to put or divide into (compartments, categories, etc), esp to an excessive degree
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Derived Forms
- ˌcompartˌmentaliˈzation, noun
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Other Words From
- com·part·men·tal·i·za·tion [k, uh, m-pahrt-men-tl-ahy-, zey, -sh, uh, n, kom-pahrt-], noun
- de·com·part·men·tal·ize verb (used with object) decompartmentalized decompartmentalizing
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Word History and Origins
Origin of compartmentalize1
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Example Sentences
That we would compartmentalize our concerns — about labor exploitation and serious injury and toxic behavior — so we could hold on to those smiles.
Membrane-bounded organelles help to organize some of the contents, usefully compartmentalizing sets of materials and providing surfaces that enable important processes, such as the production of ATP, the biochemical fuel of cells.
In “Valhalla,” the story lines are compartmentalized, similar to what “Odyssey” did.
There’s also the curious way it compartmentalizes the expression of genes within itself but leaves the construction of proteins outside.
Her Nurse Ratched is able to take these terrible traumas that happened to her, compartmentalize them and keep moving forward.
I feel less—or at least differently—divided, almost forced not to compartmentalize.
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