stigmatize
verb
stig·ma·tize
ˈstig-mə-ˌtīz 
stigmatized; stigmatizing; stigmatizes
1
a
: to describe or regard (something, such as a characteristic or group of people) in a way that shows strong disapproval
"… Academic ableism accentuates ability and stigmatizes any weakness. …"—
Michele Cooke
Michele CookeThe campaign strives to educate individuals and communities about mental illness to the point where they understand it well enough not to stigmatize it, which is similar to what's happened with physical illnesses over time.—MacKenzie Tastan
MacKenzie TastanAlcohol use disorder (AUD) and other substance use problems are considered diseases like any other, but are stigmatized as moral failure by many.—Marcelo Campos
Marcelo Campos
b
archaic
: brand
2
: to mark with stigmata
Examples of stigmatize in a Sentence
a legal system that stigmatizes juveniles as criminals
Recent Examples on the Web
Maybe more could be curious and not judgmental and refrain from stigmatizing.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2025
Yet in many professional settings, natural ethnic hair is still misunderstood, stigmatized or viewed through a Eurocentric standard of beauty.
—Bydr. Marita Kinney, Bcc, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Muslim advocacy groups were incensed by the government’s targeting of their communities for deradicalization programs, blaming CVE for stigmatizing law-abiding families and contributing to anti-Muslim hostility.
—Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 20 Mar. 2025
Transgender people who feel stigmatized can tend to their basic bodily functions without fear of exposure.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stigmatize
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Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2025
Yet in many professional settings, natural ethnic hair is still misunderstood, stigmatized or viewed through a Eurocentric standard of beauty.
—Bydr. Marita Kinney, Bcc, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Muslim advocacy groups were incensed by the government’s targeting of their communities for deradicalization programs, blaming CVE for stigmatizing law-abiding families and contributing to anti-Muslim hostility.
—Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 20 Mar. 2025
Transgender people who feel stigmatized can tend to their basic bodily functions without fear of exposure.
—Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stigmatize
Cite this Entry
“Stigmatize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stigmatize. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stigmatize
verb
stig·ma·tize
ˈstig-mə-ˌtīz
stigmatized; stigmatizing
: to mark with a stigma
especially
: to describe or identify as disgraceful
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