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2
as in defect
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing
local residents regard the hulking apartment building as a hideous excrescence on their once-lovely street
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of excrescence
But if the art market seems like an excrescence on a more limited and refined definition of the art world — focused on art, artists, museums, nonprofit arts organizations and the passion of art lovers and connoisseurs — then Sotheby’s capture of the building is impossible to celebrate.
—
Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 6 June 2023
One suspects that that weird brown hair-excrescence thing had something to do with it.
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 15 Jan. 2021
Each generation sees the technological advances of the previous era—no matter how near—as excrescences of an ancient world.
—Maël Renouard, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2020
His nationalism, in expression hyperbolic enough, essentially takes the form of virulent tropes of anti-socialism, anti-feminism and homophobia, excrescences alien to the Brazilian soul.
—Will Meyer, Longreads, 4 Oct. 2019
Various external forces coincided to make Kuma’s flirtation with monumental excrescences an abortive one.
—Nikil Saval, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2018
His evidence comes not only from obscure and difficult literary testimonia but from tree rings, ice cores and speleothems (excrescences found in caves from which ancient humidity levels can be deduced).
—James Romm, WSJ, 27 Oct. 2017
It was argued that the condition of Russia was a special one; that, elsewhere, the problem was rather one of dealing with the excrescences of the capitalist system than with capitalism itself.
—Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2011
Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 6 June 2023
One suspects that that weird brown hair-excrescence thing had something to do with it.
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 15 Jan. 2021
Each generation sees the technological advances of the previous era—no matter how near—as excrescences of an ancient world.
—Maël Renouard, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2020
His nationalism, in expression hyperbolic enough, essentially takes the form of virulent tropes of anti-socialism, anti-feminism and homophobia, excrescences alien to the Brazilian soul.
—Will Meyer, Longreads, 4 Oct. 2019
Various external forces coincided to make Kuma’s flirtation with monumental excrescences an abortive one.
—Nikil Saval, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2018
His evidence comes not only from obscure and difficult literary testimonia but from tree rings, ice cores and speleothems (excrescences found in caves from which ancient humidity levels can be deduced).
—James Romm, WSJ, 27 Oct. 2017
It was argued that the condition of Russia was a special one; that, elsewhere, the problem was rather one of dealing with the excrescences of the capitalist system than with capitalism itself.
—Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2011
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excrescence
Noun
-
Others have reported an increased risk of pancreatitis, muscle loss and thyroid tumors.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
However, early classification was difficult as symptoms varied depending on the tumor’s location.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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However, even high-quality 2D materials can have atomic defects, like missing sulfur or selenium atoms, which affect electrical behavior.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
-
American electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is recalling more than 24,000 vehicles because of a defect with hands-free highway assist, federal safety regulators said.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Lush lumps of rock crab arrived in a flying saucer made of ice and covered with kohlrabi shaved thin as a layer of frost.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
-
In particular, the bacon bits were chilled and all stuck together in one big, congealed lump along the inside of the bowl.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Gopher snakes tend to be tan-colored with large square brown blotches or saddles along their backs and smaller gray spots on their sides.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
The baby was purple-gray-colored, in blotches; wet, smeared in blood and what looked like whitish wax.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 July 2025
Noun
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But that very week also gives evidence to how fragile the Faroes are; under these extreme weather conditions, scars in nature heal slowly, if ever.—
Mattias Goldmann,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
But the scars from that era are still very much present in society, and the son, Im Dong-hwan, represents the youth of today who are trying to come to terms with that generational complexity and its legacy.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Bouton, who endured yearslong treatment for spinal deformities that could have caused paralysis eventually, is happy to be playing at all.—
Dave Melton,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
-
For spinal deformity patients, many of whom have complex medical comorbidities, the anesthesia team maintains safety throughout the procedure.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Excrescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excrescence. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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