blemishes 1 of 2

noun

plural of blemish
as in defects
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

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blemishes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of blemish
1
as in stains
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable a single indiscretion blemished the rabbi's reputation for years

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in damages
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of a scratch blemished the finish on the car

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of blemishes
Noun
In a paper published on Wednesday in Nature, Emerson and his colleagues report that these inky blemishes are a kind of transmissible skin cancer — one that appears to spread from catfish to catfish. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 July 2026 One of the biggest blemishes in the report is in the medical-device business, known as MedTech. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 15 July 2026 The coverage is just enough to mask minor discoloration and minimize the look of blemishes, but unlike traditional foundation, your real skin peeks through. — Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 1 July 2026 Choose a different watermelon if the fruit feels lightweight or has signs of bruising or blemishes. — Christine Fiorentino, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2026 The only blemishes on his resume so far was the brief trip to the IL at the end of April and his relative lack of strikeouts compared to recent years. — Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026 Tea tree oil, green tea, and licorice root round out the potent formula, helping to reduce blemishes, calm inflammation, and enhance brightness. — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 26 June 2026 In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, the actress used the Solawave 4-in-1 Red Light Therapy Wand, which our writer raves about for its ability to heal blemishes and smooth wrinkles. — Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026 Unafraid to call out her blemishes, which are really just her best qualities. — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blemishes
  1. defects
  2. stains
  3. damages
  4. scars
  5. taints
  6. mars
  7. blotches
  8. spoils
Noun
  • To capture the earliest stages of failure, the team incorporated photoelasticity, an imaging technique that reveals stress building around tiny defects before visible cracks appear.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 26 July 2026
  • Tech firms are now addressing this blind spot, deploying AI to analyze vast backlogs of inspection photos and notes, identifying defects like corrosion.
    — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of defects
Verb
  • When that protective finish gets damaged, the toilet actually stains easier and is harder to keep clean over time.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 24 May 2026
  • What Sacks doesn’t get is that by financing and diplomatically supporting Israel, our country makes the crimes of the Israeli government possible, which stains America’s reputation in the world and drains our Treasury.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of stains
Verb
  • What homeowners insurance covers after wildfire smoke exposure If wildfire smoke damages your property, homeowners insurance is typically the first place to turn.
    — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 20 July 2026
  • The lenses are replaceable, too, in case a bad fall damages them.
    — Brad Bourque, The Verge, 18 July 2026
Definition of damages
Noun
  • The historical house, owned by Oliver Anderson at the time of the war, the gardens and orchard are still marked with battle scars.
    — Zuri Primos July 26, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
  • Beyond fragrance, Colep used Cosmoprof to showcase more targeted, problem-solving concepts, including products for scars, post-procedure recovery, acne and hair growth.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 21 July 2026
Definition of scars
Verb
  • That’s been an idiotic trope for too long — that participating in the business side of it taints you.
    — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
  • The sarcasm taints the question but doesn’t invalidate it.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of taints
Verb
  • Especially the guy who bangs a wrecking ball against the historic East Wing to make room for an incongruous ballroom monstrosity, who mars the sacred Oval Office with gold glitter and paves over the lovely Rose Garden.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Jacob Whitehead Homophobic chant mars Mexico’s win Before the World Cup, the Mexican football federation launched a campaign that featured the heroes of the country’s 1986 World Cup side.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of mars
Noun
  • Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026
  • Pine snakes can grow up to 56 inches in length, have black, brown, and russet scales with dark blotches along their backs, and are noted for having a pointed nose, which experts believe may help with burrowing.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Definition of blotches
Verb
  • The jewel thieves’ spoils, all of which are still missing, include a sapphire necklace worn by Napoleon Bonaparte’s stepdaughter and an emerald necklace covered with more than 1,000 diamonds.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 22 July 2026
  • But nothing spoils your return quite like finding a black ring around your toilet bowl.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
Definition of spoils

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Cite this Entry

“Blemishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blemishes. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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