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
Framing medical treatment as a failure of willpower ignores the science — potentially delaying and stigmatizing life-saving interventions.
—Jia Shen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
As a young schoolboy, Davidson was often cruelly stigmatized because no one had bothered to diagnose his disorder.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026
For example, research on fashion consumption has shown how wearing a veil, once widely stigmatized in urban and secular settings, gradually became seen as ordinary and even fashionable as more women openly adopted it.
—Emily Tanner, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
Fernando Gonzalez, the filmmaker behind Dante, believes psychedelics are becoming less stigmatized as more Americans realize their value as legitimate medication.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stigmatize
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Jia Shen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
As a young schoolboy, Davidson was often cruelly stigmatized because no one had bothered to diagnose his disorder.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026
For example, research on fashion consumption has shown how wearing a veil, once widely stigmatized in urban and secular settings, gradually became seen as ordinary and even fashionable as more women openly adopted it.
—Emily Tanner, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
Fernando Gonzalez, the filmmaker behind Dante, believes psychedelics are becoming less stigmatized as more Americans realize their value as legitimate medication.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stigmatize
Cite this Entry
“Stigmatize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stigmatize. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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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