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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
Example Sentences
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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
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Rush University, which removed the tumors, analyzed each one.
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What Research Shows About Cancer in Dogs While there is no evidence that turkey tail shrinks tumors, the mushroom has drawn real scientific interest as a complementary therapy for serious illness.
Noun
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Equipped with onboard sensors, ANYmal scans equipment for structural defects, overheating, and gas leaks without human supervision.
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Federal bridge inspections – rooted in National Bridge Inspection Standards mandated by Congress in 1968 – exist because past failures showed that small defects can threaten large structures.
Noun
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Far from lumps of rock, the trojans, along with DJ and Dinkinesh (which is the Ethiopian name for the Lucy fossil), are windows into the past, and the storytellers of the Earth's most ancient history.
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Rather than receiving a lump-sum loan upfront, borrowers can access a credit line as needed during the draw period (up to the credit limit).
Noun
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Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.
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Pine snakes can grow up to 56 inches in length, have black, brown, and russet scales with dark blotches along their backs, and are noted for having a pointed nose, which experts believe may help with burrowing.
Noun
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The philtrum is the scar, so to speak, the visible meeting point where the central and lateral tissues joined.
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Between the trauma his father inflicted on him, banishing him, calling him weak, giving him a scar and pitting him against his sister — along with his mother being taken — Zuko gives into his darker impulses.
Noun
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Ingrown Toenails Can Form Long-term pressure from too-tight shoes, poor nail trimming, or other deformities in toe or foot can cause an ingrown toenail.
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Signs of scoliosis Early detection is important and can help prevent progression of spinal deformity and reduce the need for surgery.
Cite this Entry
“Excrescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excrescence. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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