BLIGHTS Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

blights 1 of 2

noun

plural of blight

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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blights

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of blight

as in harms

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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 blights

Noun

The same biological world that gives rise to forests, coral reefs and human life also produces infections, cancer, genetic disease, crop blights and toxins. — Tara Deans, The Conversation, 8 July 2026 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

Another approach would be to make electrolytes with fewer internal defects and extremely low electronic leakage, reducing the sites where lithium dendrites can begin.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
The project has since faced criticism over structural defects.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of defects

Verb

Because the missions of people-helping organizations are so transformative for those who depend on them, all waste harms them.

— Ryan Dewey Smith, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Paul Schmidt, an attorney for Meta, said research does not support claims that social media harms adolescents' well-being and disputed claims of addiction.

— CBS News, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of harms

Noun

The scars of the 2008 financial crisis are still scorched into Icelandic memory, and the small national currency lends itself to volatility and inflation spirals.

— Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
One plaintiff, a green card holder who lives in Chicago, said that he had been shot in the abdomen by officials under Quero Silva, an injury that left him with psychological scars and nerve damage.

— Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of scars

Verb

The delay, the filing notes, impairs Pewitt’s defense because the memories of witnesses fade and their availability is unknown, and the ability to find and re-examine physical evidence after 31 years is compromised.

— Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Hwang suffered a traumatic brain injury from the attack, leading to ataxia, a neurological disorder that impairs movement and muscle control, and occasional seizures.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026

Definition of impairs

Verb

Travel could require boarding or pet-sitting expenses, while a dog that damages property or injures someone could create potential liability issues.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
The heist goes wrong when one sister injures her back and ends up trapped on the second floor, setting off an increasingly frantic bid to get out before the homeowner comes home.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of injures

Noun

On the offense, one of the biggest question marks entering the season is which receivers, outside of Greg Gaines III, will emerge as reliable targets for JJ Kohl in the passing game.

— Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
In the doodle shop, people can sign their names on the walls and leave their own marks.

— Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of marks

Verb

And one of the toughest critiques — that service damages mental health — doesn’t hold up.

— Tom Suozzi, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Nuisance, negligence and harm to residents The largest set of claims in the lawsuit has to do with arguing that the data center damages residents’ health, futures and quality of life in the areas closest to the 400-acre hyperscale AI factory.

— Ilana Arougheti Updated August 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of damages

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blighting

blights

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“Blights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blights. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of blights

noun

verb

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