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
Drug policy reform that is grounded in scientific evidence would favor stigma-free counseling and treatment over punitive measures.
—
Lauren Micalizzi, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
According to Chaix, a return to the Paralympics would help fight stigma in wider society and inspire young people.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
The organization helps empower students to lobby college administrators for their needs, including expanding mental health services and improving messages to counter the lasting stigmas of seeking help.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
Furthermore, and as part of its IWD initiatives, the Alo Foundation is supporting The Mental Health Coalition to reach millions of women with accessible and proven mental health resources alongside educational content to help reduce mental stigmas.
—Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stigma
Lauren Micalizzi, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
According to Chaix, a return to the Paralympics would help fight stigma in wider society and inspire young people.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
The organization helps empower students to lobby college administrators for their needs, including expanding mental health services and improving messages to counter the lasting stigmas of seeking help.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
Furthermore, and as part of its IWD initiatives, the Alo Foundation is supporting The Mental Health Coalition to reach millions of women with accessible and proven mental health resources alongside educational content to help reduce mental stigmas.
—Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stigma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stigma
Noun
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Let the item sit for about 20 minutes so the fat in the coconut oil has time to break down the stain, then wash the item as normal.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Mar. 2026
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Regular cleaning and quick spill cleanups help prevent long-term stains, warping, and dullness.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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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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Letters admitting compulsions and guilt Judge Lopez must also weigh whether letters Cox wrote to a judge in 1993 and 1995 will be admissible.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Feb. 2026
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My boredom typically spurs feelings of frustration, guilt, shame—and long nutritionless spells of goggling, slack-jawed, at celebrity news on my phone while the world throbs around me.—
Daniel Smith,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And shame on San Diego Councilmember Marni von Wilpert for politically grandstanding and inserting herself into another city’s business.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
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Fool me four times, shame on me.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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To fix this, simply rub a wet rag with a little dish soap into the stain, and then blot dry.—
Kate Donovan,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
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Such cancellations are a blot on the escutcheon of the left as certainly as cancellations from the right, and the deference of any publisher to them a mark of rank cowardice.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stigma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stigma. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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