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
The statement said most Venezuelan migrants are decent and hard-working people and that American officials are attempting to stigmatize the country.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 11 Feb. 2025
Spotlighting the poor food choices of SNAP participants would be a distraction from these facts and would risk further stigmatizing a successful anti-hunger program.
—Benjamin Chrisinger, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2025
At home, Modi’s government has discriminated against and stigmatized religious and other minority groups, leading in some cases to communal violence and the bulldozing of Muslim family homes.
—Sarah Yager, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
The science on psychedelic medicine is still in its infancy, but researchers have been building on a large body of work from the mid-20th century, long before the drugs were banned and stigmatized.
—Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stigmatize 
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Landon Mion, Fox News, 11 Feb. 2025
Spotlighting the poor food choices of SNAP participants would be a distraction from these facts and would risk further stigmatizing a successful anti-hunger program.
—Benjamin Chrisinger, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2025
At home, Modi’s government has discriminated against and stigmatized religious and other minority groups, leading in some cases to communal violence and the bulldozing of Muslim family homes.
—Sarah Yager, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
The science on psychedelic medicine is still in its infancy, but researchers have been building on a large body of work from the mid-20th century, long before the drugs were banned and stigmatized.
—Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stigmatize
Dictionary Entries Near stigmatize
Cite this Entry
“Stigmatize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stigmatize. Accessed 21 Feb. 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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