blight 1 of 2

noun

ˈblīt How to pronounce blight (audio)
Definition of blightnext
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

blight

2 of 2

verb

as in to damage

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 blight
Noun
Harris said because of the downtown blight, the city wants to get into the habit of maintaining and beautifying its important corridor. — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026 Other times, diseases like blight – which is particularly common during spells of cool, damp weather – can destroy peony blooms. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 31 July 2026
Verb
The euphoria of scoring three goals in each half was somewhat blighted by the horrific injury to Koné. — Mark Hodge, NBC news, 19 June 2026 Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland, the UK’s largest freshwater lake, has also been blighted by blue-green algae for years. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for blight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blight
  1. defect
  2. damage
  3. blotch
  4. ruin
  5. scar
  6. harm
  7. mark
  8. flaw
Noun
  • The baby, whom the parents have named Rumi, was born Wednesday in Texas with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare heart defect that requires a series of surgeries, with the first typically happening during the first weeks of life.
    — Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Just when this summer couldn’t get more apocalyptic, a packaging defect has led Schwarzkopf’s parent company, Henkel, to voluntarily recall its Osis Grip Extra Strong Mousse.
    — James Manso, Allure, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of defect
Verb
  • Hundreds of buildings — hotels, apartment blocks, mixed-use structures — collapsed or were damaged beyond repair.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • If Chinese inventories become one of the last lines of defense against damaging global price spikes, Beijing may come to occupy a comparable position.
    — Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of damage
Noun
  • The next morning, a galaxy of itchy red bumps and blotches stretched from my shoulder to my hip.
    — Ben Crair, New Yorker, 31 July 2026
  • Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026
Definition of blotch
Verb
  • Campione said her campaign was focused on protecting rural lands from being annexed into cities for rural subdivisions and stopping activities that could ruin water quality or override property rights.
    — James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But the mellow vibes are ruined when a goofy case of mistaken identity results in Frankie coming home with a briefcase containing several vials of a glowing orange goo.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruin
Noun
  • On Sunday, storms brought dangerous flash flooding to the area around the Aspen Acres burn scar.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Alexa Frank thought the small, pink, flaky spot on her nose was an acne scar or eczema, a condition that causes dry, itchy skin.
    — Lindsey Bever, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of scar
Verb
  • The mother may also have auditory or visual hallucinations that drive her to harm herself or the infant.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • They have been used to subdue violent suspects who are refusing to get into squad cars and inmates who are harming themselves and threatening officers, according to Compliant Technologies.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of harm
Noun
  • But the German sportswear company was not alone in leaving a commercial mark on the tournament.
    — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • On average, only a handful of films cross the mark each year, so the fact that there already are five is promising, said Shawn Robbins, director of movie analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of mark
Verb
  • This latest issue adds to a growing list of irregularities, including inaccurate online estimates, missing plan options, and flawed spousal loan calculations.
    — Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • This analysis made several assumptions, some of which were flawed (though entirely reasonably).
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Definition of flaw

Browse Nearby Words

blew up
blight
blighted
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Cite this Entry

“Blight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blight. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on blight

Nglish: Translation of blight for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blight

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