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
Relevance
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
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 blemish
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
Mauricio Dubón's one-out double in the second was his only blemish.
—
CBS News,
27 June 2026
Linda Robertson
june 23,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
Marius Borg Hoiby, the stepson of Norway's crown prince, has been sentenced after being convicted of rape and domestic violence, in a case that has blemished his family's image.
—
Gwladys Fouche,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for blemish
Noun
The only blemishes on his resume so far was the brief trip to the IL at the end of April and his relative lack of strikeouts compared to recent years.
—
Mac Cerullo,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
Mauricio Dubón's one-out double in the second was his only blemish.
—
CBS News,
27 June 2026
Verb
De Borbon, running for a ninth term as president, was swept out of office following a contentious campaign blemished by allegations of voter fraud in previous elections.
—
Linda Robertson
june 23,
Miami Herald,
23 June 2026
Marius Borg Hoiby, the stepson of Norway's crown prince, has been sentenced after being convicted of rape and domestic violence, in a case that has blemished his family's image.
—
Gwladys Fouche,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for blemish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blemish
Noun
-
Conducted at Longcheer Technology’s electronics manufacturing facility, the robots carried out tasks including tablet inspection, defect sorting, and material transport without interruption.
-
Roughly one-third of congenital heart defects in children with Down syndrome resolve naturally, and many need only a minor intervention.
Verb
-
The World Cup group stage was marred for fans whose experiences mirrored Ramroop’s, leading FIFA and third-party platforms like StubHub to point fingers at each other amid the fallout.
-
His previous loan at Girona was marred by injuries, impacting his World Cup aspirations.
Verb
-
Some of these storms could be severe and deliver damaging wind gusts, but any thunderstorm will contain lightning — a major danger for any outdoor activities, especially for anyone trying to escape the heat in or on the water.
-
Diseases that damage the kidneys and impair their ability to filter blood were blamed for 55,081 deaths in 2024.
Noun
-
Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.
-
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.
Verb
-
That experience is quickly tainted, however, once dullness and yellowing set into the fabrics.
-
Murdaugh’s attorneys appealed the convictions, saying the trial was tainted by the county clerk Becky Hill’s inappropriate comments to jurors implying his guilt.
Verb
-
The Jackson County charges came after police accused Sanchez-Munoz in a series of shootings in Kansas City that left one man, Jeremy Keenan, dead and four others injured on June 16.
-
French and Ukrainian media reported that a Ukrainian magnate and his family were those injured.
Noun
-
Although Chicago had its issues with redlining and massive disinvestment that left generational scars on some primarily Black neighborhoods, the small town ethos held little sway over me.
-
Adding these impacts to the early Earth’s heat budget, though, proved rather challenging because Earth has a peculiar way of healing its scars.
Verb
-
Semi-sheer, marbled accent nails look like they’ve been stained with blackberry juice.
-
Dressing up for warmer weather can be a challenge since plush fabrics like silk can easily stain and aren’t as breathable.
Cite this Entry
“Blemish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blemish. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
