blight

[blahyt]

noun

1. Plant Pathology.

   1. the rapid and extensive discoloration, wilting, and death of plant tissues.

   2. a disease so characterized.

2. any cause of impairment, destruction, ruin, or frustration.

   Extravagance was the blight of the family.

   Synonyms: bane, scourge, plague, curse

3. the state or result of being blighted or deteriorated; dilapidation; decay.

   urban blight.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to wither or decay; blast.

   Frost blighted the crops.

2. to destroy; ruin; frustrate.

   Illness blighted his hopes.

verb (used without object)

1. to suffer blight.

blight

/ blaɪt /

noun

1. any plant disease characterized by withering and shrivelling without rotting See also potato blight

2. any factor, such as bacterial attack or air pollution, that causes the symptoms of blight in plants

3. a person or thing that mars or prevents growth, improvement, or prosperity

4. an ugly urban district

5. the state or condition of being blighted or spoilt

verb

1. to cause or suffer a blight

2. (tr) to frustrate or disappoint

3. (tr) to spoil; destroy

blight

1. Any of numerous plant diseases that cause leaves, stems, fruits, and tissues to wither and die. Rust, mildew, and smut are blights.

2. The bacterium, fungus, or virus that causes such a disease.

Other Word Forms

• blightingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of blight¹

First recorded in 1605–15; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of blight¹

C17: perhaps related to Old English blǣce rash; compare _bleach

Example Sentences

And then there’s that absurd Valor Memorial Park, not to mention the white supremacist and Christian nationalist politicians now blighting Washington, D.C.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

His latter years were blighted by maladies, including heart problems, Parkinson’s disease, and memory and hearing loss.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

To outsiders, these appeared to be blighted neighborhoods full of people permanently stuck at the bottom.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In a leafy suburb of south-east London, locals hope a simple solution is in sight to shut down noisy, dangerous, car racing that has blighted their lives for years.

Read more on BBC

“Neighbors feared crime, blight and property devaluation. But when they saw what we designed — colorful, open, safe, full of life — many opponents became supporters.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• affliction 
• canker 
• decay 
• eyesore 
• fungus 
• infestation 
• mildew 
• pest 
• scourge