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
as in to damage
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of blight
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 12 Mar. 2026
Leyland cypress is susceptible to needle or tip blight.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
A Martínez, NPR, 27 Nov. 2025
Another way to avoid it is to select apple tree varieties that are naturally resistant to blight and other common diseases.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blight
Noun
Possible diseases include powdery mildew, blight, crown rot, leaf gall, root rot, leaf spot, and rust.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 12 Mar. 2026
Leyland cypress is susceptible to needle or tip blight.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
Meanwhile, Lebanon – the next stop for the pope after Turkey – has also been blighted by war between Israel and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah.
—A Martínez, NPR, 27 Nov. 2025
Another way to avoid it is to select apple tree varieties that are naturally resistant to blight and other common diseases.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blight
Noun
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Higher rates of birth defects among Hispanic moms Nationwide, Hispanic women have the highest rates of having those defects during pregnancy.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
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A number of states are considering legislation requiring food makers to add folic acid to corn masa flour used to make tortillas in a bid to tackle child health defects.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In a social media post on Monday morning, Kuwait said a service building at a power generation and water desalination plant were damaged in an attack Sunday evening, killing one worker.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
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At least 12 residents have been displaced after a three-alarm fire heavily damaged five homes in Pittsburgh's Bloomfield neighborhood, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety.—
Garrett Behanna,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Early salt damage often appears as pale, chalky blotches or uneven fading in the paint finish.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
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Her zapping turns her entire head of hair — not just a streak — shocking white à la Jean Harlow, and leaves an oddly-appealing black blotch on her cheek.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2026
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Accused of ruining baseball with their big-spending ways the past two years, the noise has only gotten louder as a labor showdown looms.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Later, Bey worried her C-section scar might be infected.—
Laura Ungar,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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The recent scars of Hezbollah's activities were all too visible.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Eco effort The resort has officially banned a long list of items with potential to harm the surrounding environment, from Styrofoam to plastic straws.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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No human journalist was harmed in this experiment.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The 6-foot senior guard has also left her mark as a winner, compiling a 103-35 record with the storied program.—
Joe Davidson
March 27,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
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As the war nears the one-month mark, the death toll across the Middle East continues to mount, with thousands killed in Iran and Lebanon, where Israel has surged ground troops.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In addition to the pious, persevering Goma and flawed Chandravati in the mortal realm, in the divine realm there are the goddesses Sati and her reincarnation as Parvati.—
Jessica Vantine Birkenholtz,
The Conversation,
24 Mar. 2026
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Player recruitment was muddled, managerial appointments flawed (Remi Garde lasted 147 days in that relegation season) and the team underperformed.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blight. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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