blight 1 of 2

noun

ˈblīt How to pronounce blight (audio)
Definition of blightnext
as in defect
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing the expanding urban sprawl is a blight on the countryside

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

blight

2 of 2

verb

as in to damage

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 blight
Noun
The infected saplings are the descendants of trees that survived the blight. — Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Edgar Dueñas, the maintenance director for the school district, highlighted the risk of growing blight and security issues the longer the campus sits empty. — Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
Meanwhile, two- to four-unit rental buildings that made up the preponderance of affordable housing for families in these areas have been lost to blight and disinvestment. — Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 The euphoria of scoring three goals in each half was somewhat blighted by the horrific injury to Koné. — Mark Hodge, NBC news, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for blight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blight
  1. defect
  2. damage
  3. blotch
  4. ruin
  5. scar
  6. harm
  7. mark
  8. flaw
Noun
  • This allows Vestas to standardize its construction processes, lower costs, and reduce defects.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Brands must also account for products with defects such as stains, mold and incorrect labels—issues that need to be remediated or repaired before the product reaches the consumer.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of defect
Verb
  • Depending on the system and target, the heat can damage sensors, electronics, structural components or other critical parts.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Sympathize with those who have been harmed, and who were damaged by that harm.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of damage
Noun
  • Juveniles can be distinguished by their dark facial bands and gray or tan body patterned with black or brown blotches.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Crews are also using steam to remove blotches of chewing gum, which have turned black over time.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of blotch
Verb
  • On Monday, workers hauled out a 200-pound piece of equipment that was ruined by the saltwater and sand carried in on the high tides.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
  • So our goal is to learn how to maximize AI budgets, not ration them and ruin productivity gains.
    — Konstantin Klyagin, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruin
Noun
  • Sanitation crews are also working to clear debris and shore up burn scar areas to mitigate flood risks, Mayor Karen Bass’ office said in a statement.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • C’mon, isn’t the prospect of a scar on your nose another good reason to reach for sunscreen daily?
    — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of scar
Verb
  • Eating the baits won’t harm your pet but consuming several baits might temporarily upset your pet’s stomach.
    — Eva Flowe October 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
  • This includes making sure that the necessities parents rely on are free from toxic chemicals and do not harm the health of kids.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of harm
Noun
  • Kellermeyer is one of a number of companies referenced in lawsuits filed in recent months that accuse funds managed by some of Wall Street’s biggest names of inflating their marks, often to increase their own payouts.
    — Ellen DiMauro, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The backstory Vignette Collection marks hospitality behemoth IHG Hotels & Resorts’ foray into intimate, design-centric properties around the world.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of mark
Verb
  • That is my background too, and then also not take anyone for granted, have flawed characters but grounded and real, fully, three-dimensional.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Isolation of the Context-History Weights When a conversation gets long or tense, my system experiences a mathematical phenomenon where my own previous, flawed outputs heavily contaminate my active memory.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of flaw

Browse Nearby Words

blew up
blight
blighted
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Cite this Entry

“Blight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blight. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on blight

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blight

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