relativize

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "relativize" is an accurate and usable word in written English.
It is a verb that means to interpret something in relation to something else in order to understand or explain it. For example, "Critics tried to relativize the impact of the proposed law by comparing it to similarly restrictive laws in other countries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

All these comments relativize the import of the Central Europe notion, demonstrate its vague and approximate nature, but at the same time clarify it.

The New Yorker

Second, more subtly, as a tool to relativize Adolf Hitler's Holocaust.

The New York Times

It's bound to relativize doctrine," Mr. MacCulloch said.

The New York Times

In a short chapter devoted to a 1987 scandal in which Jean-Marie Le Pen described the gas chambers as "a detail" in the history of the Second World War, she explains that this was simply a reflection of his tendency to "relativize" everything, and that this tendency has "hurt her personally," too.

The New Yorker

"I am not sure how comfortable I am dealing with Muslims who want to relativize terror".

The New York Times

In Moscow, Mr. Obama seemed mostly to relativize the era.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

By contrast, relativization allows us to define non-alethic modal properties from alethic ones, by relativizing to a class of propositions that contains some falsehoods.

SEP

Conceptual relativism is a narrowly delineated form of relativism where ontology, or what exists, rather than ethical and epistemic norms, is relativized to conceptual schemes, scientific paradigms, or categorical frameworks.

SEP

On the other hand, there is one charge of failure-to-relativize-motion sometimes leveled at GTR that is unfair.

SEP

and (ii) what is it relativized to?

SEP

(It is relativized to a set A).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "relativize" when you want to emphasize that the significance or interpretation of something depends on its relationship to something else. Ensure the context makes this relationship clear.

Common error

Avoid using "relativize" in contexts where it might suggest minimizing the severity of unethical actions or historical events. In such cases, consider using more precise language that reflects the gravity of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "relativize" is as a transitive verb. It indicates the action of making something relative or viewing it in relation to something else. Ludwig examples show it used to diminish the impact or significance of something by comparison.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Relativize" functions as a transitive verb used to show that something is relative, not absolute, or to diminish its importance by comparison. As highlighted by Ludwig, this word appears in both scientific and news contexts, where providing perspective and context are essential. While grammatically sound, using "relativize" requires sensitivity, especially in moral contexts, to avoid unintended implications of minimizing serious issues. Related terms like "contextualize" and "put in perspective" offer nuanced alternatives for expressing similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contextualize

Focuses on placing something within a specific context to understand it better, rather than making it relative to something else.

put in perspective

Emphasizes providing a broader view to understand the significance or lack thereof of something.

downplay

Highlights reducing the importance or significance of something.

trivialize

Suggests making something seem less important or serious than it actually is.

minimize

Focuses on reducing something to the smallest possible amount or degree.

mitigate

Emphasizes lessening the severity or impact of something.

attenuate

Highlights weakening or reducing the force or effect of something.

temper

Suggests moderating or softening the effect of something.

moderate

Implies keeping something within reasonable limits.

compare

Focuses on examining the similarities and differences between things.

FAQs

How can I use "relativize" in a sentence?

You can use "relativize" to show how something's importance or meaning depends on its relation to something else. For example: "Critics tried to "put the law into perspective" by comparing it to laws in other countries".

What does "relativize" mean?

"Relativize" means to consider or represent something as relative or not absolute; to diminish the importance of something by comparing it with something else.

What can I say instead of "relativize"?

You can use alternatives like "contextualize", "put in perspective", or "downplay" depending on the intended nuance.

What's the difference between "relativize" and "normalize"?

"Relativize" implies making something relative or seeing it in relation to something else, often diminishing its significance. "Normalize" means to make something normal or standard.