as in defects
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing
the expanding urban sprawl is a blight on the countryside
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Recent Examples of blights
Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Fungicides, for instance, are used to suppress disease-causing pathogens like blights and leaf spots, but might also impact beneficial microbes that live in flowers.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2026
Yearning to light some tech on fire is a relatable feeling these days, as generative artificial intelligence promises to supplant nearly every form of non-physical labor, social media wreaks havoc on the mental health of young people, and massive data centers loom as environmental blights.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Even a simple soaker hose is better than a sprinkler system that wets the foliage, which can make plants prone to blights and mildews.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 3 Mar. 2026
The more kinds of plants, the more defenses to fend off the blights and insect infestations that ran unobstructed through landowners’ large mono-crop fields.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
Concerns over blights and quality of life became political issues.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Fungicides, for instance, are used to suppress disease-causing pathogens like blights and leaf spots, but might also impact beneficial microbes that live in flowers.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2026
Yearning to light some tech on fire is a relatable feeling these days, as generative artificial intelligence promises to supplant nearly every form of non-physical labor, social media wreaks havoc on the mental health of young people, and massive data centers loom as environmental blights.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Even a simple soaker hose is better than a sprinkler system that wets the foliage, which can make plants prone to blights and mildews.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 3 Mar. 2026
The more kinds of plants, the more defenses to fend off the blights and insect infestations that ran unobstructed through landowners’ large mono-crop fields.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blights
Noun
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These are lattice defects introduced when a carbon atom is absent, and a neighboring one is replaced by nitrogen.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
8 May 2026
-
To do this, engineers introduced defects into the material and then exposed it to reentry-like conditions inside the plasma tunnel to better understand how the system functions under off-nominal conditions.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
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And, like its predecessors, this picture tries to present an innocent image of a product that harms human health and the environment.—
Annie Persons,
The Conversation,
7 May 2026
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No matter the method, every variation of this practice harms audiences, artists, venues and the live entertainment industry.—
Lori Dimun,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Noun
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With Snow Angel, the group went bold and experimental with their sound, blending hyper-pop and lyrics that play on finding warmth in the cold and healing from their scars.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
-
Wembanyama cherishes his scars.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Noun
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These grow to form blotches that have lighter and darker zones appearing as irregular concentric rings that grow throughout the season until the entire leaf turns black and dies.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
This was a black one with blotches faintly outlined in pale yellow, a beautiful but deadly looking animal.—
Dr. C. E. Kuschel,
Outdoor Life,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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About 6 million Americans had opioid use disorder — a problematic pattern of opioid use that significantly impairs or distresses a patient — as of 2022, according to the CDC.—
Amber Gaudet,
Charlotte Observer,
6 May 2026
-
In addition to affecting sleep, chronic stress impairs concentration and cognitive function.—
Danielle Wilhour,
The Conversation,
5 May 2026
Noun
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Drag marks, blood evidence and handprints were discovered at the scene, the outlets said.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
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Kelleys Island Venture Resort, Kelleys Island A pastel yellow exterior marks Kelleys Island Venture Resort, the only resort on this idyllic Lake Erie shore hamlet.—
Jess Hoffert,
Midwest Living,
9 May 2026
Verb
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This storyline later appeared in the second season of Girls, as Dunham’s character Hannah is overwhelmed with the anxiety of writing a novel and similarly injures herself.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
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In her desperation to ask Val for a job on the new sitcom, Sharon falls and injures herself.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even one drink of alcohol damages the immune system, lowering its ability to battle invaders within 20 minutes of consumption.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
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Nebraska 2nd District The leading Democratic hopefuls in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District have been battling over whether one candidate's campaign damages the party's competitiveness in the area.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blights. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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