destigmatize

American

[dee-stig-muh-tahyz] / diˈstɪg məˌtaɪz /

verb (used with object)

to remove the social stigma or censure from (a person or group, or the characteristic or condition associated with them).

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In this way, Stiller seeks to destigmatize and, thus, forgive, without ever saying it quite so plainly.

From Salon • Oct. 18, 2025

The things we all go through as teenagers — from a mental health journey she’s done her best to destigmatize by actually talking about it, to her changing taste in makeup.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2024

Lucra says its “approach will help to destigmatize cash-based competition by evolving it into a fun, friendly, and social experience.”

From Slate • May 1, 2024

Co-founded in 2016 by Julia Hansen, a high schooler in Maine who had lost her two best friends to suicide, the nonprofit works to destigmatize mental illness and help students prioritize their emotional well-being.

From New York Times • Feb. 6, 2024

“Women are getting messages to destigmatize a lot of things.”

From Seattle Times • Nov. 9, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023