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
-
Manufacturer warranties often protect against certain defects for several years after installation.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
During testing, Claude Mythos was able to exploit thousands of bugs and software defects in major operating systems and browsers online, but it was never widely released to the public.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Antitrust enforcement remains an important tool to address circumstances where market concentration harms consumers and commerce.—
Alexander Ciccone,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
-
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that harms the immune system, tissues and organs.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
The scars left by this Western Conference Final defeat to the Chicago Wolves in seven games will linger.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
11 June 2026
-
This month marks 10 years since the horrendous attack on the Pulse nightclub, which stole the lives of 49 people, wounded dozens more, and left indelible scars on survivors, families, friends and neighbors.—
David Kay,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Unfortunately, substance use impairs judgment, increases impulsivity and amplifies vulnerability to a range of other high-risk behaviors and harms.—
Beverly Kingston,
The Conversation,
9 June 2026
-
If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
But skimping on the self-tanner can actually result in blotches and stripes.—
Deanna Pai,
Glamour,
6 June 2026
-
The sides may be mottled with brown blotches.—
Ken Perrotte,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Who is responsible when a robot breaks something or injures someone?—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
-
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
Noun
-
The ballerinas and Rodrigo then took to the New York City streets, hitting their marks while dancing in intersections around the Upper West Side.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
-
But several shots appear to hit with enough force to leave visible impact marks and dents in the wall.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Over time, that persistent immune activation can create chronic inflammation that damages blood vessels and increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and blood clots.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
9 June 2026
-
Kidneys and livers often need to be transplanted together as liver failure often damages kidneys.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blights. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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