as in defect
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing
the first mirror had a blemish on its surface, so we took it back to the store
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to mar
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
a single indiscretion blemished the rabbi's reputation for years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
a scratch blemished the finish on the car
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blemish
Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025
The Cougars are back for another run after winning 26 of their last 27 games, the only blemish in that stretch an overtime loss to Texas Tech, which is a No. 3 seed in the West.
—Jack Magruder, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
That huge carbon footprint blemishes the reputations of global tech firms such as Google and Apple, which are pressuring suppliers to set high bars for their own environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for blemish
Noun
The president’s process of souring on subordinates is often a slow burn, which can be affected by media coverage and where blemishes gather their own momentum and limit the shelf life of top aides.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025
The Cougars are back for another run after winning 26 of their last 27 games, the only blemish in that stretch an overtime loss to Texas Tech, which is a No. 3 seed in the West.
—Jack Magruder, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
Denver looked set to blemish the Chiefs’ undefeated campaign, until Wil Lutz’s 35-yarder was stuffed at the line.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
That huge carbon footprint blemishes the reputations of global tech firms such as Google and Apple, which are pressuring suppliers to set high bars for their own environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for blemish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blemish
Noun
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The pictures are fed through a machine learning algorithm to spot possible defects.—
Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Smart Manufacturing: High-resolution images of equipment, materials, and defect patterns are vital for computer vision models in automation and quality control.—
Max (Chong) Li,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The transition has been marred by ongoing disagreements, political tensions, infighting and what security experts describe as a lack of a cohesive strategy for fighting the gangs.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2025
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What Happened On March 8? The SAT, a cornerstone of college admissions, was marred by technical and administrative issues on test day.—
Scott White,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Their son and daughter-in-law, Cameron Bott, 35, and his wife, Diana, 36, whose nearby home was damaged in the tornado, initiated a discussion about starting a GoFundMe to offset potential insurance shortfalls in rebuilding the gas station.—
Tammy Ljungblad,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2025
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Previously, a fire damaged the building on Oct. 26.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The fish have white faces with a black blotch in front of the eyes, according to the study.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
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Dark brown blotches with black edges dot its back, sometimes joining together to form bands.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In its letter, the committee said that Albanese’s rhetoric tainted both the U.N. as an institution and her own position.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Cena's victory, following Mysterio's earlier match, tainted Mysterio's win and shifted focus to Cena's confrontation with the returning CM Punk, overshadowing Mysterio's moment.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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At least 31 people were killed, 27 others were injured and some 70 homes were burned before security forces arrived and repelled the gangs, killing at least 23 gunmen, the mission said.—
DÁNICA COTO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
8 Apr. 2025
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Two officers were also taken to the hospital but were not injured, sources said.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Old friends with new scars, trying not to aggravate the wounds of yesterday.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
3 Apr. 2025
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Kilmer says the cancer is gone, but its scars linger.—
Barbara VanDenburgh,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Its players are turncoats whose legacies are forever stained.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2025
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Be careful and don’t use it every wash because these products can stain your hair with a pink or lavender tint.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Blemish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blemish. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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