spiritualize

[ spir-i-choo-uh-lahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, spir·it·u·al·ized, spir·it·u·al·iz·ing.

1. to make spiritual.
2. to invest with a spiritual meaning.

spiritualize

/ ˈspɪrɪtjʊəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. tr to make spiritual or infuse with spiritual content

Derived Forms

• ˌspiritualiˈzation, noun
• ˈspiritualˌizer, noun

Other Words From

• spirit·u·al·i·zation noun
• spiri·tu·al·izer noun
• de·spirit·u·al·i·zation noun
• de·spirit·u·al·ize verb (used with object) despiritualized despiritualizing
• re·spirit·u·al·ize verb (used with object) respiritualized respiritualizing
• un·spiri·tu·al·ized adjective
• un·spiri·tu·al·izing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiritualize¹

First recorded in 1625–35; spiritual + -ize

Example Sentences

Maybe they grew rapidly because her suffering was spiritualized away.

From Salon

He added, “There is not a single degradation of the body which I must not try and make into a spiritualizing of the soul.”

From New York Times

Some white churches “have the luxury to say, ‘Let’s just spiritualize everything and not get involved in politics,’” Alick said.

From Seattle Times

But there is a genuine threat to democracy when citizens spiritualize their political differences.

From Washington Post

For these adherents, Christianity is a kind of spiritualized trolling of the modern world that gives them a vehicle to promote a particular vision — usually white, usually Western — of pre-modernity.

From New York Times

Related Words

• acquaint
• enlighten
• ennoble
• humanize
• idealize
• refine
• sophisticate
• tame