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Stigmatize vs Tarnish - What's the difference?

stigmatize | tarnish |

In lang=en terms the difference between stigmatize and tarnish

is that stigmatize is to characterize as disgraceful or ignominious; to mark with a stigma or stigmata while tarnish is to soil, sully, damage or compromise.

As verbs the difference between stigmatize and tarnish

is that stigmatize is to characterize as disgraceful or ignominious; to mark with a stigma or stigmata while tarnish is to oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.

As a noun tarnish is

oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.

stigmatize

English

Alternative forms

* (UK) stigmatise

Verb

  • To characterize as disgraceful or ignominious; to mark with a stigma or stigmata.
  • *
  • * 2010 , Mark McClelland, "The 'Beautiful Boy' in Japanese Girls' Manga", in Manga: An Anthology of Global and Cultural Perspectives (ed. Toni Johnson-Woods), The Continuum International Publishing Group Inc (2010), ISBN 9780826429377, page 78:
    • Helen Hardacre, in her study of discourses stigmatizing women who have had abortions, argues that there has been a marked rise in media interest in women's sexuality since the 1970s.
  • * 2012 , Daphne C. Watkins & Harold W. Neighbors, "Social Determinants of Depression and the Black Male Experience", in Social Determinants of Health Among African-American Men (eds. Henrie M. Treadwell, Clare Xanthos, & Kisha B. Holden), Jossey-Bass (2013), ISBN 9780470931103, page 55:
    • This chapter examines the social determinants of depression in black men because no other race-by-gender population group has been stigmatized as much as black men.

    Antonyms

    * destigmatize

    Derived terms

    * stigmatization

    tarnish

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • Oxidation or discoloration, especially of a decorative metal exposed to air.

    • Verb

    (es)
  • To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.
    • Careful storage of silver will prevent it from tarnishing .
  • To soil, sully, damage or compromise
    • He is afraid that he will tarnish his reputation if he disagrees.
  • (figurative) To lose its lustre or attraction; to become dull.
  • * Dryden
    • Till thy fresh glories, which now shine so bright, / Grow stale and tarnish with our daily sight.