stigmatizes
Marks as disgraceful
Stigmatizes means to mark someone or something as shameful or disgraceful.
To stigmatize is to attach a negative label that invites social disapproval: Society stigmatizes addiction as moral failure rather than illness.
The word derives from stigma, originally a brand burned into skin to mark criminals or slaves.
What gets stigmatized varies by culture and era—mental illness, poverty, certain diseases, unconventional lifestyles.
Causes deep embarrassment
- humiliatesCauses painful embarrassment
- disgracesCauses loss of honor
- degradesDiminishes in quality
- mortifiesCauses severe embarrassment
dishonors · demeans · belittles · embarrasses · debases · reproaches · scorns · condemns
Expels from social group
- marginalizesRelegates to insignificance
- alienatesCauses emotional withdrawal
- isolatesKeeps separate from others
- excludesDeliberately leaves out
shuns · blacklists · banishes · outcasts · segregates · rejects · exiles · expels
Oversimplified beliefs about groups
- typecastRepeatedly assigned similar roles
- pigeonholesNarrow sorting slots
- profilesSummaries of characteristics
- brandsCommercial product names
marks · tags · categorizes · classifies · characterizes · generalizes · caricatures · boxes
Treats unfairly by category
- prejudicesPreformed negative judgments
- biasesUnfair inclinations toward something
- scapegoatsThose blamed for others
- persecutesHarasses with sustained hostility
targets · victimizes · oppresses · disfavors · dehumanizes · pathologizes · criminalizes · medicalizes
Harshly criticizes reputation
- demonizesPortrays as evil
- slandersFalsely damages reputation
- libelsDefames in writing
- smearsDefaming attacks or streaks
defames · maligns · tarnishes · besmirches · disparages · denigrates · sullies · calumniates
shames
Causes deep embarrassment
- humiliatesCauses painful embarrassment
- disgracesCauses loss of honor
- degradesDiminishes in quality
mortifies · dishonors · demeans · belittles · embarrasses · debases · reproaches · scorns · condemns · denounces
ostracizes
Expels from social group
- marginalizesRelegates to insignificance
- alienatesCauses emotional withdrawal
- isolatesKeeps separate from others
excludes · shuns · blacklists · banishes · outcasts · segregates · rejects · exiles · expels · blackballs
stereotypes
Oversimplified beliefs about groups
- typecastRepeatedly assigned similar roles
- pigeonholesNarrow sorting slots
- profilesSummaries of characteristics
brands · marks · tags · categorizes · classifies · characterizes · generalizes · caricatures · boxes · prejudges
discriminates
Treats unfairly by category
- prejudicesPreformed negative judgments
- biasesUnfair inclinations toward something
- scapegoatsThose blamed for others
persecutes · targets · victimizes · oppresses · disfavors · dehumanizes · pathologizes · criminalizes · medicalizes
vilifies
Harshly criticizes reputation
smears · defames · maligns · tarnishes · besmirches · disparages · denigrates · sullies · calumniates · blackens
- criticismscriticizes, disparages, condemns, denounces, censures
stigmatizesaccepts
Consents to receive
embraces · normalizes · welcomes · includes · integrates
- stigmatized groupPeople marked by disgrace