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
Now, looking back, Spelling bemoans the embarrassment that kept her from speaking out sooner and wants to do her part to normalize the effects of eczema and dismantle the stigma.
—
Erica Sloan, SELF, 30 Oct. 2025
Welfare had become a stigma, and caseworkers raided the households of those who accepted it.
—Stephanie Land, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
People saw that with their own eyes, and slowly, these stigmas started to go away.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
His bisexuality is presented as matter-of-fact and not at all the focus, which means a lot knowing the stigma that Black bisexual men face in our community.
—Catherine Mhloyi, Them., 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stigma
Erica Sloan, SELF, 30 Oct. 2025
Welfare had become a stigma, and caseworkers raided the households of those who accepted it.
—Stephanie Land, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
People saw that with their own eyes, and slowly, these stigmas started to go away.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
His bisexuality is presented as matter-of-fact and not at all the focus, which means a lot knowing the stigma that Black bisexual men face in our community.
—Catherine Mhloyi, Them., 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stigma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stigma
Noun
-
Spray the mixture onto the stain and then blot with a clean microfiber cloth.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
-
For larger messes, the stain-resistant rug is also machine-washable for quick and hassle-free maintenance.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The film centered on the Environmental Protection Agency encasing the Simpsons’ hometown of Springfield in a dome after Homer taints the area’s water supply.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Sep. 2025
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Take care not to touch the glands, or your hands will carry their taint to the meat.—
Maurice H. Decker,
Outdoor Life,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Robertas Petraitis, known from Lithuania’s 2026 Oscar contender The Southern Chronicles, stars as Andrius, who is full of grief and guilt after a masked intruder kills his secret lover Deividas (Elvinas Juodkazis), who is Lithuania’s most influential human rights activist.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Nov. 2025
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Baramulla ultimately transcends its supernatural thriller form to become a parable about guilt, faith, and collective memory.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
There is no place for intimidation or ego tripping disguised as ‘leadership,’ or for using titles and stages to instill fear and shame instead of empower.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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There is no place for intimidation or ego tripping disguised as 'leadership' or for using titles and stages to instill fear and shame instead of empower.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Spray the mixture onto the stain and then blot with a clean microfiber cloth.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
-
After a few minutes, blot the area and wash the item by hand.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stigma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stigma. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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