BLIGHT Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

blight 1 of 2

noun

ˈblīt

Definition of blight

as in defect

something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing the expanding urban sprawl is a blight on the countryside

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blight

2 of 2

verb

as in to damage

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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

Falling scaffolding at 14th and Peachtree A skeletal, half-finished building in Midtown that has sat neglected for five years has gotten so bad, City Council members approved a measure to impose a blight tax on it earlier this year. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 15 July 2026 When a blight hits the island, the result of a curse that began when Maui stole a gem representing the heart of the goddess Te Fiti, Moana gets her quest and excuse to voyage — to find the missing Maui and force him to return the stone. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 8 July 2026

Verb

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 Ruben Dias — Portugal/Manchester City Hamstring injuries blighted the second half of Dias’ season for City. — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for blight

Recent Examples of Synonyms for blight

Noun

Regrettably, Anolik, who is almost singlehandedly responsible for Babitz’s literary exhumation, has so fallen in love with her subject as to almost blind her to Babitz’s defects, both with respect to her writing and to the life.

— Steve Wasserman, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026
To capture the earliest stages of failure, the team incorporated photoelasticity, an imaging technique that reveals stress building around tiny defects before visible cracks appear.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 26 July 2026

Definition of defect

Verb

Ho also said Celeste bore two significant penetrating injuries — one wound to her abdomen, which passed through the diaphragm and injured the liver, and the other penetrated the left side of her chest, damaging ribs and entered the chest cavity.

— Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 25 July 2026
Seven neighbors whose property was damaged by the explosion also are plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of damage

Noun

Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.

— Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026
Pine snakes can grow up to 56 inches in length, have black, brown, and russet scales with dark blotches along their backs, and are noted for having a pointed nose, which experts believe may help with burrowing.

— Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026

Definition of blotch

Verb

Floyd is no longer attracted to his wife, has trouble connecting with his teen-age stepson, and owes tens of thousands in taxes—a set of stressors that are ruining his health.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
That would ruin a good thing, apparently, and Foerster credited Puni for not only playing through a knee injury last fall but overcoming early-career growing pains.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 20 July 2026

Definition of ruin

Noun

In court, victims’ families and shooting survivors spoke about their physical and emotional scars.

— Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
But whether nestled in lush forests or barren deserts, these towns bear the scars of time, showcasing human ingenuity while reminding us of the inevitability of decay.

— Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 27 July 2026

Definition of scar

Verb

The order came at the request of a coalition of 12 Democratic state attorneys general that argues the deal will harm competition in the basic cable and theatrical distribution markets.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 22 July 2026
Her departure came a year after France’s highest court blocked a key part of a contentious farming law that would have brought back acetamiprid, a pesticide banned in France since 2018 for its role in harming bees and other pollinators.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026

Definition of harm

Noun

As mentioned, his basketball bonafides are plentiful, especially given his indelible mark as the greatest shooter the sport has ever seen.

— Devon Henderson, New York Times, 22 July 2026
The Daily Show, which is nearing its 30th anniversary mark, was recently nominated for seven Emmys including best variety series and outstanding short form comedy, drama or variety series.

— Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026

Definition of mark

Browse Nearby Words

blew up

blight

blighted

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Cite this Entry

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“Blight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blight. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of blight

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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