as in defect
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing
the expanding urban sprawl is a blight on the countryside
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to damage
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blight
City News Service, Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
The jail had been a blight on the city for more than a century.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 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
Several residents spoke in favor of the ordinance during last week’s meeting, complaining that such vehicles are not only a visual blight but also the source of crime and other activity, while discouraging people from visiting nearby businesses.
—City News Service, Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
The jail had been a blight on the city for more than a century.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 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
-
Sixty-year-old Earl Jones was born with a congenital heart defect.—
Stephanie Stahl,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
California lawmakers are also contemplating legislation that would better balance the state’s construction-defect laws.—
M. Nolan Gray,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, issued an Enhanced to Moderate Risk of Severe Weather on Monday, which includes dangerous thunderstorms, damaging winds, and the possibility of a few strong tornadoes.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Frost and freeze conditions will damage unprotected vegetation that is sensitive to freezing temperatures.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Its purple black center was surrounded by blotches of varying shades and textures, raised or sunken at places.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The evening's historic tie almost gets totally ruined For only the seventh time in history, the Oscar vote ended in a tie.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
-
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But surgeons say the net doesn’t cause scars or permanent discoloration.—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Just as often, though, survivors manifest no burns, bruises, or scars.—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
No human journalist was harmed in this experiment.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Xi’s unwillingness or inability to intervene in events so far from home seems to be harming China’s reputation as a geopolitical counterweight to the United States.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The loudest moment of the night came at the 12-minute mark when Purdue’s bench and its huge contingent of yellow and black clad fans erupted as senior point guard Braden Smith made history with his 1,077th career assist, breaking the 33-year-old NCAA record set in 1993 by Duke’s Bobby Hurley.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Mar. 2026
-
If the workload exceeds a certain threshold — a mark that is different for each arm — they’re shut down to avoid overuse.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
-
Other elements of the program’s construction are flawed along more conventional lines.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blight. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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