blight

[blahyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR blight ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Plant Pathology.

the rapid and extensive discoloration, wilting, and death of plant tissues.
a disease so characterized.

any cause of impairment, destruction, ruin, or frustration: Extravagance was the blight of the family.

the state or result of being blighted or deteriorated; dilapidation; decay: urban blight.

verb (used with object)

to cause to wither or decay; blast: Frost blighted the crops.

to destroy; ruin; frustrate: Illness blighted his hopes.

verb (used without object)

to suffer blight.

Nearby words

Origin of blight

First recorded in 1605–15; of uncertain origin

SYNONYMS FOR blight

2. curse, plague, scourge, bane.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR blight ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsblight·ing·ly, adverbun·blight·ed, adjectiveun·blight·ed·ly, adverbun·blight·ed·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for blighted

The ruling will bring back attention to a scandal that blighted the final years of the reign of 76 year-old King Juan Carlos.
Spanish Princess Likely To Face Corruption Charges|Tom Sykes|June 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His wanderings through the blighted landscape are accompanied by thoughts of resurrection and renewal.
Jeffrey Eugenides Hails Donald Antrim’s 'Elect Mr. Robinson for a Better World'|Jeffrey Eugenides|June 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Could they have done more for their blighted communities than simply build personal fiefdoms and live large?
How Will African-American Clergy React to Obama’s ‘Evolution’ on Same-Sex Marriage?|Mansfield Frazier, Larry Durstin|May 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The result is that the district combines the blighted row houses of The Wire and horse country.
5 Things to Watch in Maryland’s Republican Primary|Ben Jacobs|April 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST

And they do—demanding his remedies for potholes, blighted houses, unfair property taxes, and countless other concerns.
Mitch Landrieu's Tough Challenge|Lloyd Grove|August 16, 2010|DAILY BEAST
He gave me the impression of a man naturally buoyant, genial, witty, whose life had been blighted by some great sorrow.
The Uttermost Farthing|R. Austin Freeman
The hopes which Barney cherished, however, were destined to be blighted, at least in part.
Martin Rattler|R.M. Ballantyne
But she had not the heart to blight his joy with sarcasm, and perhaps no sarcasm would have blighted it.
The Kentons|William Dean Howells
And then—I wandered on, musing on the doubtful future, on my blighted hopes.
Christ in Flanders|Honore de Balzac
Tracing the blighted past, I am only left to sadden at that gentleness which never came from love!
Godolphin, Complete|Edward Bulwer-Lytton

British Dictionary definitions for blighted

blight

noun

any plant disease characterized by withering and shrivelling without rottingSee also potato blight

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

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

an ugly urban district

the state or condition of being blighted or spoilt

verb

to cause or suffer a blight

(tr) to frustrate or disappoint

(tr) to spoil; destroy

Word Origin for blight

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

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

Word Origin and History for blighted

blight

1610s, origin obscure; according to OED it emerged into literary speech from the talk of gardeners and farmers, perhaps ultimately from Old English blæce, blæcðu, a scrofulous skin condition and/or from Old Norse blikna "become pale." Used in a general way of agricultural diseases, sometimes with suggestion of "invisible baleful influence;" hence figurative sense of "anything which withers hopes or prospects or checks prosperity" (1828). Cf. slang blighter. Urban blight attested by 1935.