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
Trade schools and apprenticeships, which could fill these gaps, remain underfunded and stigmatized.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
President Trump’s first 100 days in office have been marked by a concerted effort to stigmatize trans people and deny them rights.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025
By the 1970s, however, a wave of newly independent countries, including in Africa, the Middle East, and elsewhere, led a new push to further stigmatize starvation tactics, driven by direct experience of this kind of warfare by their former colonial overlords.
—Boyd Van Dijk, Foreign Affairs, 30 Apr. 2025
At the same time, trans rights are also under unprecedented attack right now, and stifling an artist’s ability to play with gender expression could do more to stigmatize trans rights than uplift women’s.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stigmatize
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
President Trump’s first 100 days in office have been marked by a concerted effort to stigmatize trans people and deny them rights.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2025
By the 1970s, however, a wave of newly independent countries, including in Africa, the Middle East, and elsewhere, led a new push to further stigmatize starvation tactics, driven by direct experience of this kind of warfare by their former colonial overlords.
—Boyd Van Dijk, Foreign Affairs, 30 Apr. 2025
At the same time, trans rights are also under unprecedented attack right now, and stifling an artist’s ability to play with gender expression could do more to stigmatize trans rights than uplift women’s.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 11 Mar. 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 24 May. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share