blight 1 of 2

noun

ˈblīt How to pronounce blight (audio)
Definition of blightnext
as in defect
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing the expanding urban sprawl is a blight on the countryside

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blight

2 of 2

verb

as in to damage

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of blight
Noun
Other times, diseases like blight – which is particularly common during spells of cool, damp weather – can destroy peony blooms. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 31 July 2026 There’s a sharp focus on addressing the blight of cruise tourism. — Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Verb
The euphoria of scoring three goals in each half was somewhat blighted by the horrific injury to Koné. — Mark Hodge, NBC news, 19 June 2026 Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland, the UK’s largest freshwater lake, has also been blighted by blue-green algae for years. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for blight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blight
  1. defect
  2. damage
  3. blotch
  4. ruin
  5. scar
  6. harm
  7. mark
  8. flaw
Noun
  • Because automation was tied to worker empowerment rather than displacement, factory workers actively partnered with engineers to optimize the robots, resulting in defect rates lower than those of their American competitors.
    — Jason Dressel, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The company’s engineering team found that the defect was tied to a design weakness.
    — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of defect
Verb
  • But trying to get tanner through more UV light exposure can bring lot of dark, dark risks—such as damaging your skin and in the process raising your risk of skin cancer.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Both human and animal studies found the chemicals damage the ability of mitochondria to make adenosine triphosphate, or ATP.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of damage
Noun
  • The next morning, a galaxy of itchy red bumps and blotches stretched from my shoulder to my hip.
    — Ben Crair, New Yorker, 31 July 2026
  • Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026
Definition of blotch
Verb
  • Campione said her campaign was focused on protecting rural lands from being annexed into cities for rural subdivisions and stopping activities that could ruin water quality or override property rights.
    — James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But the mellow vibes are ruined when a goofy case of mistaken identity results in Frankie coming home with a briefcase containing several vials of a glowing orange goo.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruin
Noun
  • The disease can lead to scars or lesions, which may slow or block signals from the brain.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The silky, buildable formula camouflages all things acne scars, dark circles, and other blemishes without looking thick or cakey.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of scar
Verb
  • The mother may also have auditory or visual hallucinations that drive her to harm herself or the infant.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • They have been used to subdue violent suspects who are refusing to get into squad cars and inmates who are harming themselves and threatening officers, according to Compliant Technologies.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of harm
Noun
  • But the German sportswear company was not alone in leaving a commercial mark on the tournament.
    — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • On average, only a handful of films cross the mark each year, so the fact that there already are five is promising, said Shawn Robbins, director of movie analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of mark
Verb
  • This latest issue adds to a growing list of irregularities, including inaccurate online estimates, missing plan options, and flawed spousal loan calculations.
    — Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • This analysis made several assumptions, some of which were flawed (though entirely reasonably).
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Definition of flaw

Browse Nearby Words

blew up
blight
blighted
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Cite this Entry

“Blight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blight. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on blight

Nglish: Translation of blight for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blight

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