polarize vs alter

polarize and alter both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
polarize	No	No	Yes	No
alter	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, alter is a hypernym of polarize; that is, alter is a word with a broader meaning than polarize:

Other hypernyms of polarize include change, modify.

polarize (verb)	alter (verb)
become polarized in a conflict or contrasting situation	remove the ovaries of
cause to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions	become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence
cause to vibrate in a definite pattern	cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
	insert words into texts, often falsifying it thereby
	make an alteration to