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
End the silence, end the stigma and change the culture.
—
Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Come gather in community at the Death Cafe event as participants share snacks and tea and break the stigma that death is a taboo topic.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Zone 18, the Barrio 18 gang’s stronghold, saw 126 homicides last year despite residents facing stigma for simply living there.
—Sonia Pérez D, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
The team also found that suffering from physical effects of mpox was associated with socioeconomic factors and stigma.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stigma
Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Come gather in community at the Death Cafe event as participants share snacks and tea and break the stigma that death is a taboo topic.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Zone 18, the Barrio 18 gang’s stronghold, saw 126 homicides last year despite residents facing stigma for simply living there.
—Sonia Pérez D, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
The team also found that suffering from physical effects of mpox was associated with socioeconomic factors and stigma.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stigma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stigma
Noun
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How much of a stain should that be for a quarterback playing a team game?—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
-
King says the technology can only be used with a ceramic material that's heat-resistant, scratch-resistant, and stain-resistant, like Cosentino's Dekton line.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
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And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The shame, the guilt and the fear of the other is timeless.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The bank admitted fault in 13 out of the 101 cases tracked by the group, with the remaining 88 cases settled without an admission of guilt.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Anger, relief, anxiety, numbness, shame—all of these are normal reactions.—
Cynthia Pong,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
There’s no shame in a living room dance party.—
Avery Newmark,
AJC.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For ink and permanent marker stains, blot with a solvent like rubbing alcohol or acetone first.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Jan. 2026
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If suede gets wet, blot it instantly and use a suede brush and hair dryer to dry it.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stigma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stigma. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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