bolshevize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal, Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “bolshevize” mean?
To make something or someone adopt Bolshevik principles or methods.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make something or someone adopt Bolshevik principles or methods.
To cause to become revolutionary, extremist, or rigidly doctrinaire; to apply centralized, authoritarian control to an organization or system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically in meaning and context. British usage may appear slightly more frequently in historical texts on European/Russian history.
Connotations
Overwhelmingly negative in both varieties, connoting forceful imposition, ideological purity, and the suppression of dissent.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary discourse in both varieties, largely confined to historical/political analysis.
Grammar
How to Use “bolshevize” in a Sentence
[Subject: Agent] bolshevized [Object: Institution/Group][Subject: Process/Force] bolshevized [Object: Society][Institution] was bolshevized [by Agent]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bolshevize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Comintern sought to bolshevise the labour movements across Europe.
- After 1917, the core aim was to bolshevise the entire state apparatus.
American English
- Stalin moved quickly to bolshevize the government of the Eastern Bloc nations.
- The historian argued that the party's goal was not just to lead but to completely bolshevize society.
adverb
British English
- No adverb form.
American English
- No adverb form.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjective form. 'Bolshevizing' (present participle) is used: 'a bolshevizing faction'.
American English
- No standard adjective form. 'Bolshevized' (past participle) is used attributively: 'a bolshevized institution'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. If used metaphorically, would mean 'to impose rigid, top-down control'.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, and sociological texts discussing the spread of Bolshevik ideology and tactics.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used hyperbolically in political argument.
Technical
Specific term in Soviet/Russian historical studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bolshevize”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bolshevize”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bolshevize”
- Misspelling as 'bolshevise' (though this is an accepted British variant).
- Using it to mean simply 'to become communist' rather than the specific process of adopting *Bolshevik* methods.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare and highly specialized term, primarily used in historical and political analysis of the early 20th century.
'Bolshevize' is more specific, referring to the particular methods, ideology, and organizational structure of the Bolshevik faction. 'Communize' is broader, referring to the establishment of a communist system in general.
Almost never in contemporary English. Its use is almost exclusively descriptive from a non-Bolshevik perspective or critical. A Bolshevik sympathizer might use 'radicalize' or 'forge' instead.
The British English spelling is 'bolshevise' (with an 's'), following the -ise/-ize pattern, though '-ize' is also accepted.
To make something or someone adopt Bolshevik principles or methods.
Bolshevize is usually formal, academic, historical in register.
Bolshevize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒlʃɪvaɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈboʊlʃəvaɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BOLT of lightning (BOL-) forcing a change, making a group SHIVer (-SHEVIZE) with revolutionary fervor.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEOLOGY IS A FORCE THAT TRANSFORMS MATERIAL (The party was a hammer that bolshevized the proletariat).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'bolshevize' most accurately used?