stigmatize Definition
- 1to treat someone unfairly or criticize them severely because they have done something society does not approve of
- 2to describe or regard something as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval
Using stigmatize: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "stigmatize" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
People who have been to prison are often stigmatized by society.
Example
The media tends to stigmatize mental illness.
Example
The government should not stigmatize people who are seeking help for addiction.
Example
We should not stigmatize people based on their race, gender, or sexual orientation.
stigmatize Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with stigmatize
stigmatize someone/something as
to describe or regard someone or something as being bad or unacceptable
Example
The media often stigmatizes people with mental illness as dangerous.
to treat someone unfairly or criticize them severely because of their race, gender, or other characteristic
Example
We need to work to eliminate the stigmatization against people with disabilities.
self-stigmatize
to internalize negative attitudes and beliefs about oneself, often as a result of societal stigma
Example
People with mental illness may self-stigmatize and feel ashamed of their condition.
Origins of stigmatize
from Greek 'stigma', meaning 'mark made by a pointed instrument'
Summary: stigmatize in Brief
The verb 'stigmatize' [ˈstɪɡmətaɪz] means to unfairly treat or criticize someone or something due to societal disapproval. It can be used in phrases like 'stigmatize someone/something as' and 'stigmatize against,' and can lead to individuals self-stigmatizing. Examples include 'The media tends to stigmatize mental illness' and 'We should not stigmatize people based on their race, gender, or sexual orientation.'
