stigma

noun

ˈstig-mə How to pronounce stigma (audio)
Definition of stigmanext
as in stain
a mark of guilt or disgrace in "The Scarlet Letter," Hester Prynne bore the stigma of adultery

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of stigma These numbers may be an undercount, given stigma among researchers against reporting adverse events, Majić says. — Dawn Fallik, Scientific American, 11 Aug. 2026 Concern and stigma around psychedelics are still common, according to the 2025 UC Berkeley Psychedelics Survey. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Aug. 2026 But even as India opened its doors to foreign investment in the 1990s, igniting a middle-class boom, the country carried the stigma of poverty. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026 Unlike many spices that come from the roots or leaves of plants, saffron comes from the flower’s stigma on the Crocus sativus plant. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stigma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stigma
  1. stain
  2. taint
  3. guilt
  4. shame
  5. blot
Noun
  • While the worst issues were discovered at the Sleep Inn, site visits at the Holiday Inn and Fairfield Inn also revealed water stains, humid laundry facilities and signs of pests.
    — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • There’s a pet-stain remover under the sink, which, of course, does nothing.
    — Brandon Follick, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of stain
Noun
  • Even though Thiam denied knowledge of it and was cleared of involvement, the taint of the scandal led to his ouster.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026
  • On top of worrying about making great wine, European producers will now have to mitigate against smoke taint, save their grapes from frost, and consider how to future-proof vineyards in a rapidly changing climate.
    — Kate Dingwall, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026
Definition of taint
Noun
  • The woman carried guilt over not being there for him and wanted to forgive herself.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Many Spaniards lived or even committed atrocities in the Civil War, suffering a collective guilt, Ruiz Capillas surmises.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of guilt
Noun
  • For the countless women who either never bounce back or bounce back slowly, social media can add a layer of shame.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Which is a shame, because these guys were just as talented (if not more talented) than some of the more popular axe-slingers of the 80s.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of shame
Noun
  • If especially juicy, lightly blot with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Once the stain is gone, blot again with a clean damp cloth to remove any soap residue and allow the upholstery to air-dry completely.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of blot

Browse Nearby Words

stifling
stigma
stigmas
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stigma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stigma. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on stigma

Nglish: Translation of stigma for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stigma

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of oxymoron

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All