as in labeling
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stigmatizing
Most states barely touch on the area of mental health when a person applies for a gun license due to concerns over privacy issues and stigmatizing people who have mental health issues, CNN has reported.
—
Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2025
For decades, American culture has pushed college as the only path to middle-class prosperity while stigmatizing manual labor as somehow lesser work.
—Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2025
For decades, American culture has pushed college as the only path to middle-class prosperity while stigmatizing manual labor as somehow lesser work.
—Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stigmatizing
Verb
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Mamdani tried to moderate his positions in the waning weeks of the campaign, appearing on Fox News and apologizing to police officers for once labeling the NYPD as racist, wicked and corrupt.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
4 Nov. 2025
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Instead of simply labeling a photo as a dog or a cat, researchers can now train models that compose music, draft text, or even invent new molecules.—
Chelsea Haney
October 30,
New Atlas,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The changes were initiated by the Homeland Security Department, the current official said, without specifying which cities were impacted.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
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Without specifying the countries of origin, the Russian Defense Ministry said foreign fighter jets were scrambled to identify the Russian aircraft on parts of their flight, adding that the flight was in strict compliance with international airspace rules.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The motivation appears to be part national defense (deterring China) and part branding exercise.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Oct. 2025
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Chanes says that Nubank is investing heavily in AI across its operations but to improve functionality rather than branding.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Tennessean is not naming those charged until additional information is provided.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
7 Nov. 2025
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The release did not disclose the terms of the naming rights deal.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Even calling it a magazine is a conscious way of trying to distinguish the work producers are putting months and months of effort into recording and writing from what podcasting has become.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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The negative reviews — some going as far as calling All’s Fair the worst show ever with the worst acting — triggered a new media cycle of stories.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stigmatizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stigmatizing. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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