scarlet letter

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.

I believe he lived with a scarlet letter on him because of it.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2025

Controversial newsmakers—Monica Lewinsky, Tonya Harding, Lorena Bobbitt among them—had the term pinioned to them like a scarlet letter, stripping away their accomplishments and leaving only scorned husks of their real selves.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2025

“It is far worse than any scarlet letter could ever be,” he added.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 3, 2024

Energy consultant Gonzalo Monroy warned that the restructuring “would mark Mexico with a scarlet letter that says Mexico does not honor contracts, it changes the rules, it is arbitrary with inversions.”

From Washington Post • Apr. 16, 2022

There was no scarlet letter with which these people could brand her as the guilty creature they believed her to be; but short of this, what could they not do to her?

From The Doctor's Wife by Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth)