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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Recent Examples of stigmatizing
But the situation in that city has also demonstrated MAGA’s methods for stigmatizing dissent.
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Those gender-specific displays can feel intimidating or stigmatizing to some men, Horvath said.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
In 2021, the actress and comedian opened up further about her addiction and the importance of de-stigmatizing the topic.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 24 Nov. 2025
But economic eligibility systems are stigmatizing and difficult to navigate, Bailin said.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025
Chiefly, many doctors say the label is largely responsible for stigmatizing hormone therapy and discouraging many women from taking it and doctors from prescribing it.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 10 Nov. 2025
However, experts say juvenile delinquencies can have serious long-term consequences by disrupting children's education and stigmatizing them.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Nov. 2025
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
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Those gender-specific displays can feel intimidating or stigmatizing to some men, Horvath said.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
In 2021, the actress and comedian opened up further about her addiction and the importance of de-stigmatizing the topic.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 24 Nov. 2025
But economic eligibility systems are stigmatizing and difficult to navigate, Bailin said.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025
Chiefly, many doctors say the label is largely responsible for stigmatizing hormone therapy and discouraging many women from taking it and doctors from prescribing it.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 10 Nov. 2025
However, experts say juvenile delinquencies can have serious long-term consequences by disrupting children's education and stigmatizing them.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 10 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stigmatizing
Verb
-
These two behaviors suggest that dolphins are capable of addressing or labeling specific individuals.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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So write to the White House and tell them to start working for the American people, rather than writing letters to the newspaper labeling a deceased innocent woman a rioter.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Include your name, phone number and email address specifying February Writing Workshop.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Jan. 2026
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Putting the murder shortlist in one person’s hands, rather than letting the shields do the work of specifying who can be killed off, is a major change that gives the Secret Traitor a ton of power without a ton of explanation for their thinking.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That adjacency is not branding.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The most popular argument against autistic Barbie is that branding one specific doll with one specific set of traits and accessibility aids as the autistic one will have too much influence on how people perceive autism.—
Sarah Kurchak,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Here’s where naming a Wall Street pro who’s a master of spotting where danger’s building may prove a hedge against a future calamity.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
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Islamists battled for their own theocratic nation, and bands of Christian cultists—whom locals, naming them according to their most notorious act, called chop-chop—severed the heads of those deemed unholy in villages and towns across Mindanao.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Shortly after the post was made, activists in the predominantly Hispanic community quickly began sharing the post and calling for action to be taken against the teacher, who Fox News Digital is not naming due to safety concerns.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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The Giants also switched back and forth between Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka calling plays at various points.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stigmatizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stigmatizing. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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