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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
a scratch blemished the finish on the car
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blemish
Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
This is also true for squash with cuts, cracks, or blemishes.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Emily Reynolds, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Amorim cupped his hand round the back of Casemiro’s neck as the midfielder’s eyes focused down on the turf, a man possibly contemplating how his perfect record in five Champions League finals had become blemished with a loss in the equivalent in Europe’s second-tier competition.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for blemish
Noun
The Bulldogs beat eight of the nine, with a lopsided loss to Michigan as the only blemish.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
This is also true for squash with cuts, cracks, or blemishes.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Verb
Reputational damage occurs when a business’s name is blemished in some manner.
—Emily Reynolds, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Amorim cupped his hand round the back of Casemiro’s neck as the midfielder’s eyes focused down on the turf, a man possibly contemplating how his perfect record in five Champions League finals had become blemished with a loss in the equivalent in Europe’s second-tier competition.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for blemish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blemish
Noun
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The defect was linked to at least 54 frontal crashes and the deaths of more than a dozen people.—
Christopher DiLella,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
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The coroner found no anatomical cause of death—no brain bleed, no congenital defects, no reason that an otherwise healthy boy had suddenly died.—
Ben Taub,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Tempers flared during a recent pair of NBA games, and both contests were marred by tense clashes between players.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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To bring cameras into the equation might mar the authenticity of this pursuit.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some government offices and financial institutions were damaged during the unrest, residents said, while merchants reported being ordered to reopen businesses despite ongoing security operations.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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The gunfire damaged the car’s rear end, trunk, tail light and rear window louver, according to court documents.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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These blotches are fairly plant friendly and produce what is known as algal leaf spot.—
Brian Bell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Jan. 2026
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Leaves may show blotches and mottled coloring and fruit may remain partially green and irregularly shaped.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The fact that Katherine had been institutionalized may have tainted her scholarly reputation.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
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Both the original news reporting and police investigation would be tainted by these sexist views.—
Nathan Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Patrick Gary Schlegel, 34, of Sahuarita, was shot and critically injured, according to authorities.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
28 Jan. 2026
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Kevin De Bruyne got injured in October and hasn’t featured since.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Minneapolis is far from alone in navigating high-profile events and bearing scars from multiple tragedies past.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
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More commonly, branches are destroyed, or a permanent vertical scar is left in a tree’s trunk, known as a frost rib.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Wearing kitchen gloves to keep your hands from staining, knead 7 oz.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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In testing on human teeth that were artificially stained with tea and coffee, the researchers found that a total of four hours of brushing showed visible whitening, while 12 total hours of brushing led to teeth that were nearly 50% whiter than those in a control group.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blemish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blemish. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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