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
Come gather in community as this group share snacks and tea and breaks the stigma that death is a taboo topic.
—
Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Tanya Meisenholder, the director of police research at the NYU School of Law, says there is still a stigma attached to reporting in law enforcement agencies.
—Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
This mental health stigma served as a barrier to seeking treatment.
—Helena Addison, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2026
Part of that shift is cultural—there’s less stigma, more TikTok visibility, and more open talk about student debt and wages.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stigma
Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Tanya Meisenholder, the director of police research at the NYU School of Law, says there is still a stigma attached to reporting in law enforcement agencies.
—Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
This mental health stigma served as a barrier to seeking treatment.
—Helena Addison, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2026
Part of that shift is cultural—there’s less stigma, more TikTok visibility, and more open talk about student debt and wages.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stigma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stigma
Noun
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Walk the inside perimeter and glance at ceilings or upper walls for any water stains, especially in attic spaces.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
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Leading their rise to prominence are recent debuts from Huda Beauty and Summer Fridays to Covergirl and NYX, all of which promise the precision of a classic liner with the staying power of a stain.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
11 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
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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
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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
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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 12 Mar. 2026.
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