as in stain
a mark of guilt or disgrace
in "The Scarlet Letter," Hester Prynne bore the stigma of adultery
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stigma
Drug policy reform that is grounded in scientific evidence would favor stigma-free counseling and treatment over punitive measures.
—
Lauren Micalizzi, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
According to Chaix, a return to the Paralympics would help fight stigma in wider society and inspire young people.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
The organization helps empower students to lobby college administrators for their needs, including expanding mental health services and improving messages to counter the lasting stigmas of seeking help.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
Furthermore, and as part of its IWD initiatives, the Alo Foundation is supporting The Mental Health Coalition to reach millions of women with accessible and proven mental health resources alongside educational content to help reduce mental stigmas.
—Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stigma
Lauren Micalizzi, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
According to Chaix, a return to the Paralympics would help fight stigma in wider society and inspire young people.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
The organization helps empower students to lobby college administrators for their needs, including expanding mental health services and improving messages to counter the lasting stigmas of seeking help.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
Furthermore, and as part of its IWD initiatives, the Alo Foundation is supporting The Mental Health Coalition to reach millions of women with accessible and proven mental health resources alongside educational content to help reduce mental stigmas.
—Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stigma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stigma
Noun
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Let the item sit for about 20 minutes so the fat in the coconut oil has time to break down the stain, then wash the item as normal.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Mar. 2026
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Regular cleaning and quick spill cleanups help prevent long-term stains, warping, and dullness.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Iran, a war targeting regime change and the destruction of its nuclear capacities — laudable goals — also has the suspicious taint of being all about oil.—
Markos Kounalakis,
Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2026
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The taint of being part of the cheating 2017 Astros has worn off over the years, and Cubs fans are banging the drum for Bregman’s arrival, excited to have an offensive upgrade from Matt Shaw, who can still learn a lot from playing multiple positions and watching from the bench.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If guilt shows up, remind yourself that recovery time is valid and necessary.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Even prosecutor Laurie Baio admitted that, despite Kassotis' inconsistencies, jurors might have doubts about his guilt.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There’s no shame in making mistakes, even if the franchise has made the same mistakes for two-plus decades.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
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The sport has come a long way since the juiced glory days of the 1990s and early 2000s, enacting frequent testing, punishment and public shame.—
Brittany Ghiroli,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But the blot on Sacramento State’s basketball resume is the road record.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
5 Mar. 2026
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The left-back has started 123 of the last 125 games and 86 of the last 87, with the blot on his card arriving late last season when manager Oliver Glasner rested key players after Palace won the FA Cup.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stigma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stigma. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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