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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An inspector can catch defects before closing while the builder is still obligated to correct them.—
Ryan Brennan
May 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
-
Condos are particularly tough for builders to invest in because California law allows homeowners associations, or HOAs, to sue developers for construction defects for up to 10 years after a building is completed.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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But when the pressure to succeed remains high, and the cost/difficulty of AI tools remains low, many students are tempted to take a shortcut, even one that ultimately harms them.—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
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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
Noun
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In humans, glial scars form very quickly after injury.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
Harris also shows us the burn scars that ripple up Racine’s arm and across Anaia’s face, textured skin that makes strangers blanch, to which Racine lashes out defensively.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Soon, red blotches were sprouting on his skin.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
-
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
Verb
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Chronic short sleep raises blood pressure, impairs glucose metabolism and is linked to higher rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression and anxiety.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
-
Chronic short sleep raises blood pressure and impairs glucose metabolism, and it’s linked to higher rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and depression — each an independent longevity risk on its own.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
19 May 2026
Noun
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Not all insurance covers it, and the high cost is one of the marks against the drugs, according to the Mayo Clinic, which also cites gastrointestinal problems, loss of muscle mass and bone density as potential negative side effects.—
Connie Ogle
Updated May 15,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
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Our small group of seven guests was able to wander freely through ancient Greek buildings, tour a contemporary mosque, and learn more about how both the Ottoman and Roman Empires have left their marks on this part of the world.—
Paul Brady,
Travel + Leisure,
15 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 23 May. 2026.
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