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Synonyms

blemish

American  
[blem-ish] / ˈblɛm ɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

  1. to destroy or diminish the perfection of.

    The book is blemished by those long, ineffective descriptions.
    Synonyms:
    deface, impair, damage, mar, injure, taint, tarnish, spot, sully, stain
    Antonyms:
    repair, purify

noun

  1. a mark that detracts from appearance, as a pimple or a scar.

  2. a defect or flaw; stain; blight.

    a blemish on his record.
    Synonyms:
    taint, speck, spot, blot
blemish British  
/ ˈblɛmɪʃ /

noun

  1. a defect; flaw; stain

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to flaw the perfection of; spoil; tarnish

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See defect.

Other Word Forms

  • blemisher noun
  • unblemished adjective
  • unblemishing adjective

Etymology

Origin of blemish

1275–1325; Middle English (v.) < Anglo-French, Middle French blemiss-, long stem of ble ( s ) mir to make livid, perhaps < Old Low Franconian *blesmjan; blaze 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sagimet’s denifanstat showed increased blemish clearance in young adults after a year, with a 20% reduction in pimples after three months compared with a placebo in a China study.

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

Should you instantly disqualify anyone with a blemish on their record?

From MarketWatch • Dec. 12, 2025

European champions Spain were close to joining England with a perfect campaign, but a 2-2 draw against Turkey in their final qualifying match put the only small blemish on their record.

From BBC • Dec. 5, 2025

Dan O’Dell’s squad won 20 of its last 21 matches — its only blemish being a four-set defeat to Sierra Canyon in the CIF-SS final.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 23, 2025

He couldn’t stand having this blemish on his record.

From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.