Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for blight on Thesaurus.com 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. Show More
to cause to wither or decay; blast: Frost blighted the crops. to destroy; ruin; frustrate: Illness blighted his hopes. Show More
verb (used without object) to suffer blight. Show More
Origin of blight First recorded in 1605–15; of uncertain origin
Related forms blight·ing·ly , adverb un·blight·ed , adjective un·blight·ed·ly , adverb un·blight·ed·ness , noun Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for blighted mar ,
taint ,
nullify ,
dash ,
blast ,
annihilate ,
wreck ,
decay ,
injure ,
damage ,
frustrate ,
crush ,
wither ,
spoil ,
disappoint ,
trash ,
shrivel Examples from the Web for blighted Contemporary Examples of 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.
His wanderings through the blighted landscape are accompanied by thoughts of resurrection and renewal.
Could they have done more for their blighted communities than simply build personal fiefdoms and live large?
The result is that the district combines the blighted row houses of The Wire and horse country.
And they do—demanding his remedies for potholes, blighted houses, unfair property taxes, and countless other concerns.
Historical Examples of blighted He shaded the dinner, cooled the wines, chilled the gravy, and blighted the vegetables.
Had she not deceived me, injured me—blighted my happiness for life?
I have blighted and withered the affections of his heart to that extent that he is not sure of me.
It is some comfort to know that everything will not be blighted hereabouts.
There can be no doubt about it: we are blighted by the great destructiveness.
British Dictionary definitions for blighted any plant disease characterized by withering and shrivelling without rotting See 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 Show More
to cause or suffer a blight (tr) to frustrate or disappoint (tr) to spoil; destroy Show More
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
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Word Origin and History for blighted n. 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.
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v. "afflict with blight," 1660s (implied in blighted ), from blight (n.). Figurative use by 1712. Related: Blighted ; blighting .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Any of numerous plant diseases that cause leaves, stems, fruits, and tissues to wither and die. Rust, mildew, and smut are blights. The bacterium, fungus, or virus that causes such a disease. Show More
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
