Synonyms of blemish

blemish 1 of 2

noun

as in defect

something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing

the first mirror had a blemish on its surface, so we took it back to the store

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defect
• blotch
• scar
• mark
• stain
• distortion
• imperfection
• flaw
• deformity
• fault
• blight
• disfigurement
• mar
• irregularity
• spot
• excrescence
• pockmark
• abnormality
• bug
• injury
• weakness
• excrescency
• blot
• taint
• damage
• malformation
• glitch
• blur
• impairment
• misshape
• defacement
• failing
• kink

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enhancement
• decoration
• ornament
• adornment
• embellishment

blemish

2 of 2

verb

ˈble-mish 

1

as in to mar

to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable

a single indiscretion blemished the rabbi's reputation for years

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mar
• taint
• stain
• spoil
• poison
• darken
• tarnish
• touch
• smear
• discredit
• vitiate
• smudge
• distort
• degrade
• soil
• blacken
• corrupt
• blur
• disgrace
• dirty
• shame
• besmirch
• discolor
• dishonor
• pollute
• sully
• smirch
• tar
• cloud
• smut
• besmear
• pervert
• demean
• sink
• foul
• debase
• color
• cheapen
• lower
• abase
• subvert
• demoralize
• debauch
• deprave
• twist
• begrime
• bastardize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cleanse
• purify
• elevate
• magnify
• glorify
• uplift
• dignify
• ennoble
• enshrine
• hallow

2

as in to damage

to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of

a scratch blemished the finish on the car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• damage
• mar
• injure
• compromise
• hurt
• flaw
• cripple
• spoil
• harm
• impair
• bloody
• disfigure
• weaken
• break
• destroy
• erode
• ruin
• deface
• cross (up)
• vitiate
• crab
• undermine
• wound
• tarnish
• shatter
• deteriorate
• blight
• endamage
• dent
• batter
• wreck
• wear (away)
• ding
• wash out
• demolish
• scour
• enfeeble
• botch
• smash
• torment
• torture
• devastate
• annihilate
• scourge
• desolate
• waste
• lacerate
• mutilate
• gum (up)
• crush
• maim
• wipe out
• queer
• disable
• tear down
• decimate
• enervate
• total
• hamstring
• dash
• pulverize
• dint
• clobber
• mangle
• raze
• lame
• bash
• do in
• bang up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• patch
• repair
• fix
• rebuild
• remedy
• reconstruct
• cure
• help
• rectify
• renovate
• heal
• mend
• revamp
• rehabilitate
• perfect
• improve
• recondition
• revise
• doctor
• better
• edit
• remodel
• enhance
• ameliorate
• refine
• enrich
• meliorate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of blemish

Noun

Missing out on the ultimate prize remains the one blemish in his otherwise mind-blowing trophy cabinet. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Balogun’s red card was the lone blemish in an otherwise dominant showing last Wednesday. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 6 July 2026

Verb

Stripped of modern tools, MASK is messy, blemished, unfinished—and all the sweeter for it. — Arielle Gordon, Pitchfork, 22 May 2026

Shawnee’s local government, including the City Council, has been blemished by controversy for more than a decade. — Pj Green october 20, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2025