as in defects
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in stains
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 damages
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
a scratch blemished the finish on the car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 blemishes
Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026
In the early 1900s, the pioneering American astrophysicist George Ellery Hale discovered that the sunspots that Galileo and others had traced weren’t blemishes but magnetic storms, regions of intense activity that waxed and waned on the 11-year solar cycle.
—Quanta Magazine, 28 May 2026
But sluggishness in Tableau and the commerce vertical are blemishes.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 May 2026
While spot treatments are great for targeting blemishes, sometimes a physical barrier is helpful.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 26 May 2026
This $20 formula is like a magic eraser for old acne scars, sun spots, and blemishes.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 24 May 2026
Much of these blemishes and decline can be reduced by making sure there is plenty of room for the plants to grow.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026
Up close, the vast expanse of the human skin resembles an unknown landscape, maybe similar to the lunar terrain, with craters and elevations in the form of minuscule blemishes, hairs, and cutaneous eruptions.
—Carlos Aguilar, IndieWire, 15 May 2026
The purpose of redemptive leadership is not to restore your image or fix blemishes.
—Jerry Colonna, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Noun
That and a harmless fifth-inning error were the only blemishes on his masterpiece.
—Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026
In the early 1900s, the pioneering American astrophysicist George Ellery Hale discovered that the sunspots that Galileo and others had traced weren’t blemishes but magnetic storms, regions of intense activity that waxed and waned on the 11-year solar cycle.
—Quanta Magazine, 28 May 2026
But sluggishness in Tableau and the commerce vertical are blemishes.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 May 2026
While spot treatments are great for targeting blemishes, sometimes a physical barrier is helpful.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 26 May 2026
This $20 formula is like a magic eraser for old acne scars, sun spots, and blemishes.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 24 May 2026
Much of these blemishes and decline can be reduced by making sure there is plenty of room for the plants to grow.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026
Up close, the vast expanse of the human skin resembles an unknown landscape, maybe similar to the lunar terrain, with craters and elevations in the form of minuscule blemishes, hairs, and cutaneous eruptions.
—Carlos Aguilar, IndieWire, 15 May 2026
The purpose of redemptive leadership is not to restore your image or fix blemishes.
—Jerry Colonna, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blemishes
Noun
-
Fewer production defects To test the system, the team printed a hexagonal structure larger than a truck tire.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
22 May 2026
-
The approval was then challenged in court by three Maine residents who claimed that thousands of the signatures were invalid because of defects in the collection and certification process, among other procedural violations.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
What Sacks doesn’t get is that by financing and diplomatically supporting Israel, our country makes the crimes of the Israeli government possible, which stains America’s reputation in the world and drains our Treasury.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Every failure of the state now stains the turban as well as the uniform.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
During photosynthesis, cyanobacteria release oxygen, which quickly damages hydrogenase enzymes responsible for hydrogen production.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
27 May 2026
-
If a boat comes loose and damages other property, uninsured owners may be liable.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
Proud scars remain, like the Civil War-era bullet holes in the brick walls of the half-bath, which were once the exterior walls of the building.—
Mike Klingaman,
Baltimore Sun,
26 May 2026
-
Brown wasn’t here for those scars.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
The sarcasm taints the question but doesn’t invalidate it.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The film centered on the Environmental Protection Agency encasing the Simpsons’ hometown of Springfield in a dome after Homer taints the area’s water supply.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
No sadness mars the purity of its paranoia.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
However, an earnestness mars most of the proceedings.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Soon, red blotches were sprouting on his skin.—
Mary Beth Sheridan,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
-
These grow to form blotches that have lighter and darker zones appearing as irregular concentric rings that grow throughout the season until the entire leaf turns black and dies.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Pre-cut produce also spoils quicker and could pick up pathogens when sliced open.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
23 May 2026
-
This post spoils the entirety of the first season of The Boroughs now on Netflix.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blemishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blemishes. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
