blight

5 synonyms and 1 antonym for blight, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A plant disease, often caused by fungus, that causes rapid browning and death of leaves or stems.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

mar plague corrupt

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

bane contaminate

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

Something that damages or holds back growth, development, or quality of life.

“Poverty remains a blight on the community.”

bane

2. verb

To damage or spoil the growth or development of something.

“The scandal blighted his reputation for years.”

mar plague corrupt contaminate

Opposites

beautify

How to use blight

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

urban blight potato blight blight on society

Etymology

Origin uncertain, but likely related to an Old English word meaning "to shine or grow pale" — possibly linked to the same root as "bleak."

Full origin of blight →

Frequently asked questions

What does “blight” mean?

The word “blight” means a plant disease, often caused by fungus, that causes rapid browning and death of leaves or stems. In plain terms, a disease that ruins plants, or more broadly, anything that spoils or holds back growth and prosperity.

How do you pronounce “blight”?

“Blight” is pronounced blyt (/blaɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “blight” in a sentence?

Here is “blight” used in a sentence: “Potato blight devastated crops across the region that year.”

What part of speech is “blight”?

Depending on how it is used, “blight” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “blight” come from?

The word “blight” comes from Old English. Origin uncertain, but likely related to an Old English word meaning "to shine or grow pale" — possibly linked to the same root as "bleak.".

Is “blight” a common word?

“Blight” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

How many meanings does “blight” have?

“Blight” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a plant disease, often caused by fungus, that causes rapid browning and death of leaves or stems.

People also searched

mar corrupt plague bane contaminate beautify

Nearby words

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