destigmatize

verb de·stig·ma·tize \ (ˌ)dē-ˈstig-mə-ˌtīz \

Definition of destigmatize

transitive verb

:to remove associations of shame or disgrace from

destigmatize mental illness

Recent Examples of destigmatize from the Web

Prince William and Prince Harry have continued their late mother's efforts to destigmatize mental health issues in recent years.

— andrea park, SELF, "Prince William Addresses Princess Diana's Bulimia for the First Time," 22 Aug. 2017
Prince William and Prince Harry have continued their late mother's efforts to destigmatize mental health issues in recent years.

— andrea park, Glamour, "Prince William Addresses Princess Diana's Bulimia for the First Time," 22 Aug. 2017
As a massively public figure, Diana used her notoriety to bring awareness to homelessness and landmines, and to help destigmatize AIDS around the world.

— patricia garcia, Vogue, "If You Want Gossip, HBO’s Princess Diana Documentary Is Not for You," 24 July 2017
Over the past few years, a menstruation movement—spearheaded largely by female activists, many of them millennials—has swept the U.S., aiming to destigmatize periods and bring safer products to women and girls everywhere.

— abigail jones, MSNBC Newsweek, "The Period Movement: Meet the Men Fighting to Stop Menstruation-Shaming in the Developing World," 12 July 2017
Today on The Atlantic Blood Feud: In recent years, American pop culture has attempted to destigmatize the association between women and bleeding.

— elaine godfrey, The Atlantic, "The Atlantic Politics & Policy Daily: Cyber Bully Pulpit," 29 June 2017
Fisher’s willingness to talk about her mental illness helped destigmatize it for many ordinary Americans, and likely led to more people talking to their friends and family about their feelings, and eventually seeking treatment, Leventhal said.

— richard winton, The Seattle Times, "Despite demons, Carrie Fisher helped many fight theirs," 25 June 2017
This visit was to promote Time to Talk Day, an offshoot of the Heads Together campaign to destigmatize mental health issues.

— angela levin, Newsweek, "Exclusive: Prince Harry on Chaos After Diana's Death and Why the World Needs 'the Magic' of the Royal Family," 21 June 2017
Fisher’s willingness to talk about her mental illness helped destigmatize it for many ordinary Americans, and likely led to more people talking to their friends and family about their feelings, and eventually seeking treatment, said Leventhal.

— joe mozingo, latimes.com, "Carrie Fisher opened up about her demons — and knew it wouldn't have a Hollywood ending," 20 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'destigmatize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.