blemish

1 of 2

verb

blem·​ish ˈble-mish How to pronounce blemish (audio)
blemished; blemishing; blemishes

transitive verb

: to spoil by a flaw

blemish

2 of 2

noun

: a noticeable imperfection
especially : one that seriously impairs appearance

Examples of blemish in a Sentence

Verb A series of burn marks blemish the table's surface. The incident blemished his reputation. Noun The cream is supposed to prevent blemishes on the skin. The table had a few scratches and minor blemishes. The book fails to mention any of the organization's many blemishes. The incident was a blemish on his record.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Despite providing the complexion with tons of hydration, this skincare formula still feels lightweight enough for acne-prone skin and would make an excellent option for those with dry yet blemished skin. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 18 Jan. 2024 The launch failure Tuesday blemishes what had been a strong couple of years of technical accomplishment for Rocket Lab's launch business. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 19 Sep. 2023 Concrete patios are durable, inexpensive, and low-maintenance, but dirt, debris, and food can blemish these tough surfaces over time. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2024 Was it slightly blemished and therefore not purchased? Ryan Begin, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023 At the same time, videos of men weeping are embedded in barber chair headrests, and a life-size, near-nude statue of a doleful San Lazaro, patron of healing, presides over all, buff of physique but blemished with sores. Holland Cotter, New York Times, 13 July 2023 The devices are used to help position the outfielders, and the coaches sometimes scuff out marks in the grass with their heels, blemishing the near-perfect sod. David Waldstein, New York Times, 20 June 2023 Neruda’s own reputation is already blemished, his considerable moral failings as a person having overshadowed the once-universal acclaim for his art. Ariel Dorfman, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2023 Corrigan added that such a narrow defeat in a conference title game didn't blemish the resume TCU already had in place. Michelle Gardner, The Arizona Republic, 4 Dec. 2022
Noun
Does my fascination with other people’s lives indicate a latent dissatisfaction with my own, or—worse—a sort of blemish on my character? Daisy Jones, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2024 Rael – Acne Healing Patches Annihilate any blemish with these water-resistant patches that protect and hydrate, all while extracting dirt and other impurities. Erin Michelle Newberg, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 For one of the NFL’s oldest franchises, to have never made a Super Bowl appearance was a blemish on the team’s history but had always seemed like a far-away aspiration. Ben Morse, CNN, 29 Jan. 2024 During a Week 6 loss to the New York Jets, the lone blemish for Philadelphia until December, a knee injury – later revealed as a bone bruise – clearly hampered Hurts. USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2024 My skin’s texture has dramatically improved over the last month, with far fewer blemishes than normal. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Last season’s team that reached the national championship game went 15-1 at home with the lone blemish against New Mexico. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 Puk threw two shutout innings in the Marlins’ 7-1 spring training loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday at Clover Park, with his only blemish being a one-out walk to Francisco Alvarez in the first inning. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2024 The drops contain hyaluronic acid to keep skin moisturized and fruit extracts for brightening uneven patches caused by blemishes. Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blemish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English blemisshen, to damage, injure, sully, from Anglo-French blemiss-, stem of blemir, blesmir, from Old French, literally, to make pale by wounding, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German blasros horse with a blaze, Old Norse blesi blaze — more at blaze

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1535, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blemish was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near blemish

Cite this Entry

“Blemish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blemish. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

blemish

noun
blem·​ish
ˈblem-ish
: a mark that makes something imperfect
blemish verb

Medical Definition

blemish

noun
blem·​ish ˈblem-ish How to pronounce blemish (audio)
: a mark of physical deformity or injury: as
a
: any small mark on the skin (as a pimple or birthmark)
blemishes symptomatic of acne
b
: a defect of an animal (as a horse) that detracts from its appearance but does not interfere with its usefulness

More from Merriam-Webster on blemish

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