stigmatize

verb

Definition of stigmatizenext
as in to label
usually disapproving to describe or regard (something, such as a characteristic or group of people) in a way that shows strong disapproval a legal system that stigmatizes juveniles as criminals

Related Words

Relevance

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 stigmatize Teen-pregnancy rates have dropped dramatically, women have far more educational and professional opportunities, and social norms that stigmatized childlessness have loosened. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026 The night, centered on the foundation’s ongoing push to fund a cure and support those stigmatized by their HIV status, didn’t end on that solemn note. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 18 Sep. 2026 They didn’t get killed, these women, but their souls were hurt and they were stigmatized and traumatized for life. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026 Each is compensating, in its own way, for advertising channels the cannabis industry still can't use, and for trust that, in a young and still-stigmatized market, has to be built face to face. — Peter Su, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stigmatize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stigmatize
  1. label
  2. specify
  3. brand
  4. designate
  5. name
  6. call
  7. denote
  8. term
Verb
  • Four bottles of chemical degreaser and bleach were not labeled with the common name of the chemical.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The company’s portfolio includes flagship brand JNBY, menswear label Croquis, home furnishings label JNBY Home and four other apparel brands targeting different lifestyle segments.
    — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of label
Verb
  • Idaho law does not specify which direction folks walking on the shoulder must face — or which side of the road they’re supposed to be on.
    — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Although Breslin’s proposal doesn’t specify the multi-family units as apartments rather than for-purchase condos, the building design is consistent with modern apartment buildings.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of specify
Verb
  • Morant is a man who knows a thing or two about branding as well.
    — Jason Quick, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Even Bryn Mooser, the cofounder of Asteria—a company that brands itself as Hollywood’s ethical AI studio—is with them.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of brand
Verb
  • The United States designates both critical minerals and critical materials, and there is some crossover between them.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Sotheby’s announced Thursday that the works, recently designated French national treasures, had been withdrawn following discussions between the Schlumberger family and the city of Aix-en-Provence, Cézanne’s hometown.
    — Daniel Cassady for ARTnews, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of designate
Verb
  • In June, Kifowit was named executive director of the Construction Industry Service Corporation, a non-profit labor-management association representing unionized construction trades in Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Kane and Kendall counties.
    — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • In the late 20th century the Zapatista National Liberation Army (Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional; EZLN), named for the peasant revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, was founded to protect Indigenous communities.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of name
Verb
  • Allen drained it to extend Charlotte’s lead to 20, and then found Dennis Schröder for a high-five as Miami called a timeout.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Later, however, a faithful replica, also called the Atlantic, was built.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of call
Verb
  • The title obviously denotes your look onstage rocking the tejana.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The downtrend channel that took hold in December 2024 has come into secular support from the monthly cloud model, denoted by the shading on the chart.
    — Katie Stockton, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of denote
Verb
  • Now, Newsom is termed out of the governor’s mansion early next year and is reportedly laying the groundwork for a presidential run in 2028, where his track record on homelessness will almost inevitably come up on the campaign trail.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Quantum particles carrying information that could determine their behavior is termed hidden variables, since this information might not be accessible for scientists to observe it.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of term

Browse Nearby Words

stigmas
stigmatize
stigmatized
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stigmatize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stigmatize. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of satiate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All