variants
or stigmata
as in stains
a mark of guilt or disgrace
in "The Scarlet Letter," Hester Prynne bore the stigma of adultery
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Recent Examples of stigmas
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
Wight says that this process can be done using a small Q-tip to transfer pollen from the anthers to the stigmas.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
Many japonica camellias, in the manner of other botanical hybrids, are sterile with their yellow, thread-like stamens and stigmas either absent or invisible.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Shame and those social stigmas are the enemies of progress to solutions and ultimately a cure.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
The associated stigmas that come alongside having an addiction and needing help are both deterrents for acknowledging the problem and seeking support.
—Sarah Allen Benton, SELF, 23 Dec. 2025
Since its creation in 1998 in Mexico City, the Festival Iberoamericano de Cultura Musical, better known as Vive Latino, has had a transgressive personality that challenges stigmas.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 18 Dec. 2025
The trend is helping reverse stigmas against community college that infiltrated society, with some seeing the institutions as lower value than four-year universities, experts note.
—Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 14 Nov. 2025
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
Wight says that this process can be done using a small Q-tip to transfer pollen from the anthers to the stigmas.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
Many japonica camellias, in the manner of other botanical hybrids, are sterile with their yellow, thread-like stamens and stigmas either absent or invisible.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Shame and those social stigmas are the enemies of progress to solutions and ultimately a cure.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
The associated stigmas that come alongside having an addiction and needing help are both deterrents for acknowledging the problem and seeking support.
—Sarah Allen Benton, SELF, 23 Dec. 2025
Since its creation in 1998 in Mexico City, the Festival Iberoamericano de Cultura Musical, better known as Vive Latino, has had a transgressive personality that challenges stigmas.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 18 Dec. 2025
The trend is helping reverse stigmas against community college that infiltrated society, with some seeing the institutions as lower value than four-year universities, experts note.
—Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stigmas
stains
Noun
-
In addition to spot-cleaning any stains or scuff marks on the exteriors of purses, backpacks, or luggage, double-check the interiors.—
Alexandra Kelly,
Martha Stewart,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Repeat until the stains are gone.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stigmas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stigmas. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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