What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
externalize
Example
She externalized her anger by yelling at her friend. [externalized: verb]
Example
The artist externalized his vision through his paintings. [externalized: verb]
objectify
Example
The media often objectifies women by portraying them as sexual objects. [objectifies: verb]
Example
The scientist objectified the theory by creating a mathematical model. [objectified: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Objectify is more commonly used than externalize in everyday language. Objectify is often used in social and cultural contexts to describe the dehumanization of individuals or groups, while externalize is more commonly used in psychology and art to describe the expression of internal experiences.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between externalize and objectify?
Both externalize and objectify are formal words that are typically used in academic or professional contexts.