stigmatize
verb
stig·ma·tize
ˈstig-mə-ˌtīz 
stigmatized; stigmatizing; stigmatizes
1
a
: to describe or regard (something, such as a characteristic or group of people) in a way that shows strong disapproval
"… Academic ableism accentuates ability and stigmatizes any weakness. …"—
Michele Cooke
Michele CookeThe campaign strives to educate individuals and communities about mental illness to the point where they understand it well enough not to stigmatize it, which is similar to what's happened with physical illnesses over time.—MacKenzie Tastan
MacKenzie TastanAlcohol use disorder (AUD) and other substance use problems are considered diseases like any other, but are stigmatized as moral failure by many.—Marcelo Campos
Marcelo Campos
b
archaic
: brand
2
: to mark with stigmata
Examples of stigmatize in a Sentence
a legal system that stigmatizes juveniles as criminals
Recent Examples on the Web
It is highly stigmatized despite its prevalence and many who are going through menopause must suffer in silence.
—Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Singh Pannun, however, urged against using the accident to stigmatize the broader Sikh trucking community.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
Corpses were further stigmatized by the decline of sanitation in medieval Europe, and they’ve been associated with disease ever since.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025
Opponents counter that the move stigmatizes low-income families and limits personal choice without addressing broader issues, such as food affordability and access to healthier options.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stigmatize
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Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Singh Pannun, however, urged against using the accident to stigmatize the broader Sikh trucking community.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
Corpses were further stigmatized by the decline of sanitation in medieval Europe, and they’ve been associated with disease ever since.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025
Opponents counter that the move stigmatizes low-income families and limits personal choice without addressing broader issues, such as food affordability and access to healthier options.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stigmatize
Cite this Entry
“Stigmatize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stigmatize. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stigmatize
verb
stig·ma·tize
ˈstig-mə-ˌtīz
stigmatized; stigmatizing
: to mark with a stigma
especially
: to describe or identify as disgraceful
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