as in defects
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing
the expanding urban sprawl is a blight on the countryside
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Recent Examples of blights
Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Fungicides, for instance, are used to suppress disease-causing pathogens like blights and leaf spots, but might also impact beneficial microbes that live in flowers.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2026
Yearning to light some tech on fire is a relatable feeling these days, as generative artificial intelligence promises to supplant nearly every form of non-physical labor, social media wreaks havoc on the mental health of young people, and massive data centers loom as environmental blights.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Even a simple soaker hose is better than a sprinkler system that wets the foliage, which can make plants prone to blights and mildews.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 3 Mar. 2026
The more kinds of plants, the more defenses to fend off the blights and insect infestations that ran unobstructed through landowners’ large mono-crop fields.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
Concerns over blights and quality of life became political issues.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Fungicides, for instance, are used to suppress disease-causing pathogens like blights and leaf spots, but might also impact beneficial microbes that live in flowers.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2026
Yearning to light some tech on fire is a relatable feeling these days, as generative artificial intelligence promises to supplant nearly every form of non-physical labor, social media wreaks havoc on the mental health of young people, and massive data centers loom as environmental blights.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026
Even a simple soaker hose is better than a sprinkler system that wets the foliage, which can make plants prone to blights and mildews.
—Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 3 Mar. 2026
The more kinds of plants, the more defenses to fend off the blights and insect infestations that ran unobstructed through landowners’ large mono-crop fields.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blights
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
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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
-
Using it on lawns and the environment harms the natural predators to species homeowners and farmers are trying to control, which can lead to a surge in those unwanted populations.—
Gavin Escott,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
Denver District Court Judge Ericka Eckhart opted not to require Children’s to restart care, finding that the potential harms to the hospital and its other patients from losing federal funding would outweigh harm to the plaintiffs.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
Noun
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But while in football that is generally viewed as a good thing, Tuchel and his coaching staff are also conscious that there are downsides that come with having been there and done it before, including scars from previous tournaments.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
-
While the mud is gone, some scars remain.—
Bryan P. Sears,
Baltimore Sun,
23 May 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
-
If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
-
For others still chasing results, upping spending — without substantively addressing AI strategy, governance, workforce capabilities and cross-functional collaboration — burns cash, impairs competitiveness and erodes morale.—
Noah Barsky,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
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Her best marks this season are 188-7 in the discus and 53-2 in the shot put.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
24 May 2026
-
From tomatoes and berries to bell peppers and avocados, bumps, pressure, and handling during transport or storage can leave marks.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
This storyline later appeared in the second season of Girls, as Dunham’s character Hannah is overwhelmed with the anxiety of writing a novel and similarly injures herself.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
-
In her desperation to ask Val for a job on the new sitcom, Sharon falls and injures herself.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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During photosynthesis, cyanobacteria release oxygen, which quickly damages hydrogenase enzymes responsible for hydrogen production.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
27 May 2026
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If a boat comes loose and damages other property, uninsured owners may be liable.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blights. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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