stigmatize

especially British, stig·ma·tise

[stig-muh-tahyz]

verb (used with object)

stigmatized, stigmatizing 

1. to set some mark of disgrace or infamy upon.

   The crime of the father stigmatized the whole family.

2. to mark with a stigma or brand.

3. to produce stigmata, marks, spots, or the like, on.

stigmatize

/ ˈstɪɡməˌtaɪz /

verb

1. to mark out or describe (as something bad)

2. to mark with a stigma or stigmata

Other Word Forms

• stigmatization noun
• stigmatizer noun
• destigmatize verb (used with object)
• unstigmatized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stigmatize¹

1575–85; < Medieval Latin stigmatizāre, equivalent to stigmat- ( stigmatic ) + -izāre -ize

Example Sentences

The new “King of the Hill” season takes aim at misogynist bro seminars, cultural appropriation in the restaurant world and how divorce is still stigmatized in many cultures, among other topics.

From Los Angeles Times

“The overreach is stigmatizing an entire swath of our society. Whether you look or sound like an immigrant, in the eyes of others, you are automatically considered an outsider, and that’s morally and legally wrong.”

From Los Angeles Times

The stalwart period has been stigmatized in text messages as an expression of simmering fury for years.

From Salon

A decade ago, narcissism was a little-discussed personality disorder, especially compared to more stigmatized diagnoses, like sociopathy or borderline personality disorder.

From Salon

It’s a really stigmatized genre, and a genre that is specifically for men and for certain kinds of lyrics.

From Los Angeles Times