1. to remove or modify parts of a text that are considered offensive or inappropriate
Usage: often used when discussing censorship of literature

Examples

• The publisher decided to bowdlerize the classic novel for younger readers.
• Many schools bowdlerize Shakespeare’s plays to make them more suitable for students.
• The editor was criticized for bowdlerizing the author’s original work.
• They bowdlerized the film by removing all violent scenes.
• The committee voted to bowdlerize the textbook before distribution.
• Critics argued that bowdlerizing the poem destroyed its artistic integrity.