blemish
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
verb
Synonym Usage
See defect.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
blemishsimple
-
blemishessimple
-
have blemishedperfect
-
has blemishedperfect
-
am blemishingprogressive
-
are blemishingprogressive
-
is blemishingprogressive
-
have been blemishingperfect progressive
-
has been blemishingperfect progressive
Past
-
blemishedsimple
-
had blemishedperfect
-
was blemishingprogressive
-
were blemishingprogressive
-
had been blemishingperfect progressive
Future
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; see blaze 2
Explanation
A blemish is a small flaw. If you borrow your brother's brand new bicycle, you'd better be careful — what might seem like the tiniest blemish to you might be a horribly ruined paint job to him. The classic example of a blemish is a pimple or other mark on your skin, but you can call any small defect a blemish — like a worm hole in an apple or a scrape on the side of your car. A flaw or fault in your personality or morals can also be called a blemish. You might say that the one time your dog accidentally nipped you is the only blemish on his reputation as a sweet, gentle pet.
Vocabulary lists containing blemish
"The Landlady" by Roald Dahl
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List 6
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "B"
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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.
See Examples For:
One blemish on the chart was the failed breakout above the $133.47 cup-with-handle pivot on May 19.
From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026
While Topgolf left a blemish on the record of Callaway, the company is still a dominant player, with the No. 2 U.S. market share in both clubs and balls.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026
And in a culture so hellbent on idol worship and exhausting discourse, where every blemish is smoothed out or screamed at, “SNL” still offers us something scrappy and unvarnished.
From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2026
However Lush's pay record is not without blemish.
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2025
This blemish was odd enough for a young lady still in her twenties.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
Late Monday, Sagimet announced that young adults showed increased clearance of their blemishes when they stayed on its pill for a year.
From Barron's ● Feb. 3, 2026
His only blemishes in that time were repeated disappointments in the playoffs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2025
Whether it's trying to cover up blemishes, match your foundation to your skin tone or create a bold eye look, picking out the right colours is an important part of doing your make-up.
From BBC ● May 8, 2025
In large amounts, fluoride causes unsightly blemishes on teeth, and it may even have some negative health consequences.
From Slate ● Jan. 16, 2025
Both felt that it was a period of high visibility, that their faults and blemishes were sinking into obscurity in an inversely proportional manner.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
That record is blemished by his removal from an assignment based on his Francis-like tendencies, which may have had a hand in his failure to rise above the lowest of the U.S.
From Slate ● Apr. 13, 2026
We’ve developed creative ways to mitigate waste, finding secondary uses for produce that’s past its prime—whether bent, broken, bruised, blemished, or overly ripe.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2024
The two hour and 15 minute show, blemished only by some occasionally muddy sound, touched on mortality a number of times.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 18, 2024
Throop returned to his hometown in 1990 to take stock of its blemished environment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 2022
Her purity of spirit would never be in doubt, though she moved through a blemished world.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
The ruckus is blemishing what had been a successful period for Ukraine’s military, which has stopped some Russian advances and even regained a bit of territory over recent months.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
Senate when she died, and questions about her mental capacity shadowed her final years in office, blemishing her reputation and forcing her to repeatedly fend off calls to resign.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2023
In any event, there’s no longer a need for the Kraken to be fearful of losses blemishing their pretty record.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 21, 2022
Brooks faced the minimum eight batters in 2⅔ innings, with only a hit batter blemishing his line.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 13, 2019
For in the eagle the spirit of sight is most temperate and most sharp in act and deed of seeing and beholding the sun in the roundness of its circle without blemishing of eyen.
From Mediaeval Lore from Bartholomew Anglicus by Steele, Robert
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.
