blight

/blaɪt/ neutral to formal

Say it: BLITE

1. noun A plant disease, typically one caused by fungi such as mildews, rusts, and smuts.
A sudden frost and a wave of blight destroyed nearly half the tomato crop.
2. noun A thing that spoils or damages something, or the condition of being spoiled or damaged.
The abandoned, graffiti-covered factory is a blight on the entire neighborhood.
3. verb To spoil, harm, or destroy something.
A bitter family argument threatened to blight the wedding celebration.
🇪🇸 plaga

📖 Seen in the wild

As if it were my most normal condition and in no way a sickness or a blight, so that finally I lost any wish to struggle against this blight.
collected by @missha

✏️ blight in a sentence

The city council has allocated funds to tear down derelict buildings and combat urban blight.
His once promising career was blighted by a series of poor decisions.
The Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s was caused by a devastating potato blight.
Cynicism, he felt, was a blight on the human spirit.
The new highway cast a blight over the quiet, rural valley.
She refused to let one bad experience blight her opinion of the entire country.
Without proper care, the roses were soon covered in blight.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

affliction scourge plague canker curse menace ruin decay

affliction · suggests a cause of persistent suffering or distress, while blight focuses more on decay and ruin.

scourge · implies a cause of widespread and severe suffering, often as if it were a form of punishment.

plague · emphasizes a destructive force that is widespread and often contagious.

canker · refers to a corrupting influence that spreads slowly and corrosively, like a sore.

Opposites: boon, blessing, vigor, flourishing, prosperity

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'blight' emerged in the 16th century with uncertain origins, likely from an Old English term that has since been lost. Its earliest uses were agricultural, describing mysterious diseases that withered crops. Over time, its meaning expanded metaphorically to describe any force that causes decay, corruption, or ruin.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

urban blighta blight on the landscapepotato blightblighted hopescast a blight on

Blight carries a strong negative connotation of decay and destruction. It is often used to describe a slow, creeping process of ruin rather than a sudden catastrophe. While its original meaning is agricultural, its metaphorical use to describe social or urban decay (as in 'urban blight') is now just as common. Using 'blight' is more evocative and formal than simply saying something is 'spoiled' or 'ruined'.

Word family: blighted

💬 Quick answers

What does blight mean in simple terms?

Blight is a disease that harms plants or, more broadly, anything that ruins or spoils something, like a run-down area in a city known as 'urban blight'.

What is the difference between blight and a plague?

Blight usually refers to a disease or condition that causes decay, especially in plants. A plague is typically a widespread, contagious disease affecting many people or animals, and metaphorically suggests a more active and calamitous disaster.

Is 'blight' a formal word?

Yes, 'blight' is generally considered neutral to formal. It is a strong, evocative word often used in literature, news, and serious discussions, but less common in casual conversation.

What is urban blight?

Urban blight refers to the decay and deterioration of a part of a city, characterized by abandoned buildings, vacant lots, crime, and general neglect.

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