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
Some tropical species, like paddle grass, have long, threadlike stigmas that finger the water for pollen.
—
David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
But Hendershot says that many of these medications are historically underutilized because of stigma.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
Maybe the new category name will get rid of some of the stigma around films made primarily for a TV audience.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 26 Mar. 2026
But several factors – including an increase in ADHD and autism, an uptick in anxiety diagnoses since the pandemic and reduced stigma around seeking mental health help – may be at play.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stigma
David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
But Hendershot says that many of these medications are historically underutilized because of stigma.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
Maybe the new category name will get rid of some of the stigma around films made primarily for a TV audience.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 26 Mar. 2026
But several factors – including an increase in ADHD and autism, an uptick in anxiety diagnoses since the pandemic and reduced stigma around seeking mental health help – may be at play.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stigma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stigma
Noun
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Designed with convenience and your busy lifestyle in mind, MY MAGIC CARPET rugs protect floors from scratches, spills and stains.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
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Our editors tested over a dozen shower cleaners to find the ones that are most effective at removing soap scum and water stains.—
Josh Feldman,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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So long-reaching was the taint of that shame, Kentucky’s Bill Spivey died in Costa Rica, a practical exile after he not only was run out of the college game, he was banned from the NBA, too.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
18 Mar. 2026
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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
Noun
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With busy schedules, sitting down to eat a meal as a family can be tricky and cause feelings of guilt.—
Dr. Sarah Kinsella,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
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The Israeli justice ministry has since advised Herzog against the move, citing the lack of a conviction, the absence of remorse or admission of guilt.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That’s a shame, because the region stretching from Albany in the east to Buffalo in the west—the Erie Canal corridor—contains some of the most startling and consequential history anywhere in the country.—
Beverly Gage,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
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Which is a shame, because Mud Lake IV sounds like a movie sequel.—
Mark Glende,
Twin Cities,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Cover the stain with your DIY cleaning solution, rinse thoroughly, then blot to dry.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Apr. 2026
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Cover the stain with your DIY cleaning solution, rinse thoroughly, then blot to dry.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stigma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stigma. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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