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
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
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
-
Fish embryos that grow in the presence of oil may be born with heart defects, as well as spine and skull deformities.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Thus, with structural concerns emerging locally, Central Florida residents are left with questions about building safety, oversight, and construction defects.—
Keegan A. Berry,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Luna himself has acknowledged never finding any, and department policy has always provided for the means to discipline and terminate any employee who engages in behavior that harms the public, fellow employees, or is otherwise prohibited by law.—
Opinion Staff,
Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Science shows that burning coal harms human health and contributes to climate change.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
My surgeon did a great job; my scars are not bad.—
Marci Greenberg Cox,
Glamour,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The recent scars of Hezbollah's activities were all too visible.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The eggs vary in color—from white to blue to brown—with speckles, blotches, and other markings and are also distinctive in shape.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Early salt damage often appears as pale, chalky blotches or uneven fading in the paint finish.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Researchers believe the cave’s permanent darkness impairs the spiders’ vision, creating an unlikely truce between predator and prey.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Researchers believe the cave’s poor lighting impairs the spiders’ vision, creating an unlikely truce between the species.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Leon's order, which also included a number of exclamation marks, said the government must get congressional approval before continuing the project.—
Arden Farhi,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
All of those offensive marks were needed for Orlando to leave Dallas on top 138-127 in a high-scoring affair that saw Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg post 51 points, 24 of which were recorded in the fourth quarter.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In her desperation to ask Val for a job on the new sitcom, Sharon falls and injures herself.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Pool drain seriously injures girl Paloma Quatrini was just days away from her fourth birthday when the accident happened at an upscale resort in Mexico.—
Meghan Schiller,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Over the long run, missing the market's best days damages your returns.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Military advocates warn that deporting service members’ spouses damages recruitment and morale, undermining national security interests.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blights. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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