blemished; blemishing; blemishes
: to spoil by a flaw
: a noticeable imperfection
especially
: one that seriously impairs appearance
Synonyms
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
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
Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
Body Acne Steps Out From the Shadows Acne is a skin issue for 50 million Americans, and yet openly discussing breakouts, or asking for product recommendations, is still stigmatized, especially for blemishes on the back, chest, or butt.
—Hannah Baxter, Allure, 5 Mar. 2024
The only blemish on Luzardo’s season that year was a left forearm strain sustained six starts into the season.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
Walmart Spring Beauty Glow Up Event 2024 Makeup Deals
Dark circles and blemishes are no match for By Terry's Terrybly Densiliss Concealer.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 26 Mar. 2024
These types of exfoliants can also stimulate cellular turnover to reduce hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and other blemishes while revealing more radiant-looking skin.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
There are still some blemishes, and no one would mistake this working-class neighborhood for Pacific Palisades.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
The new matte grey color coating reduces the appearance of fingerprints and blemishes.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Find it on Amazon This Acne Spot Treatment From The Future
Take care of all of your acne woes one step at a time with this Acne Spot Treatment that uses red and blue light therapy to safely address any pimples or blemishes.
—Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2024
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
When selecting rhubarb, look for stalks that are firm, crisp and free of blemishes.
—Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
Body Acne Steps Out From the Shadows Acne is a skin issue for 50 million Americans, and yet openly discussing breakouts, or asking for product recommendations, is still stigmatized, especially for blemishes on the back, chest, or butt.
—Hannah Baxter, Allure, 5 Mar. 2024
The only blemish on Luzardo’s season that year was a left forearm strain sustained six starts into the season.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
Walmart Spring Beauty Glow Up Event 2024 Makeup Deals
Dark circles and blemishes are no match for By Terry's Terrybly Densiliss Concealer.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 26 Mar. 2024
These types of exfoliants can also stimulate cellular turnover to reduce hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and other blemishes while revealing more radiant-looking skin.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
There are still some blemishes, and no one would mistake this working-class neighborhood for Pacific Palisades.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
The new matte grey color coating reduces the appearance of fingerprints and blemishes.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Find it on Amazon This Acne Spot Treatment From The Future
Take care of all of your acne woes one step at a time with this Acne Spot Treatment that uses red and blue light therapy to safely address any pimples or blemishes.
—Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 15 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.
Dictionary Entries Near blemish
Cite this Entry
“Blemish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blemish. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
blemish
noun
blem·ish
ˈblem-ish 
: 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
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