blemish
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blem·ish
(blĕm′ĭsh)n.
1. A small mark that makes the appearance of something less attractive.
2. An imperfection that mars or impairs; a flaw.
tr.v. blem·ished, blem·ish·ing, blem·ish·es
1. To cause to have a small mark or marks that diminish attractiveness: skin blemished by an allergy.
2. To mar or impair by a flaw: accusations that blemished his reputation.
[Middle English blemisshen, to damage, mar, from Old French blesmir, blemir, blemiss-, to make pale, of Germanic origin; see bhel- in Indo-European roots.]
blem′ish·er n.
Synonyms: blemish, imperfection, fault, defect, flaw1
These nouns denote loss or absence of perfection. A blemish is something thought to mar the appearance or character of a thing: "Industry in art is a necessity—not a virtue—and any evidence of the same, in the production, is a blemish" (James McNeill Whistler).
Imperfection and fault apply more comprehensively to any deficiency or shortcoming: "A true critic ought to dwell rather upon excellencies than imperfections" (Joseph Addison)."Each of us would point out to the other her most serious faults, and thereby help her to remedy them" (Anna Howard Shaw).
Defect denotes a serious functional or structural shortcoming: "Ill breeding ... is not a single defect, it is the result of many" (Henry Fielding).
A flaw is an imperfection that may be hidden or of apparent insignificance but that often has serious consequences: Experiments revealed a very basic flaw in the theory.
These nouns denote loss or absence of perfection. A blemish is something thought to mar the appearance or character of a thing: "Industry in art is a necessity—not a virtue—and any evidence of the same, in the production, is a blemish" (James McNeill Whistler).
Imperfection and fault apply more comprehensively to any deficiency or shortcoming: "A true critic ought to dwell rather upon excellencies than imperfections" (Joseph Addison)."Each of us would point out to the other her most serious faults, and thereby help her to remedy them" (Anna Howard Shaw).
Defect denotes a serious functional or structural shortcoming: "Ill breeding ... is not a single defect, it is the result of many" (Henry Fielding).
A flaw is an imperfection that may be hidden or of apparent insignificance but that often has serious consequences: Experiments revealed a very basic flaw in the theory.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
blemish
(ˈblɛmɪʃ)n
a defect; flaw; stain
vb
(tr) to flaw the perfection of; spoil; tarnish
[C14: from Old French blemir to make pale, probably of Germanic origin]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
blem•ish
(ˈblɛm ɪʃ)v.t.
1. to destroy or diminish the perfection of; mar; sully.
n. 2. a mark that detracts from appearance, as a pimple or a scar.
3. a defect or flaw; stain; blight: a blemish on one's record.
[1275–1325; Middle English < Anglo-French, Middle French blemiss-, long s. of ble(s)mir to make livid; see blaze2]
blem′ish•er, n.
syn: See defect.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
blemish
Past participle: blemished
Gerund: blemishing
| Imperative |
|---|
| blemish |
| blemish |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  blemish - a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something (especially on a person's body); "a facial blemish"appearance, visual aspect - outward or visible aspect of a person or thing chatter mark - a mark made by a chattering tool on the surface of a workpiece crack - a blemish resulting from a break without complete separation of the parts; "there was a crack in the mirror" mole - a small congenital pigmented spot on the skin blot, smirch, smudge, daub, slur, smear, spot - a blemish made by dirt; "he had a smudge on his cheek" stigma - a skin lesion that is a diagnostic sign of some disease |
| Verb | 1. |  blemish - mar or spoil the appearance of; "scars defaced her cheeks"; "The vandals disfigured the statue" |
| 2. |  blemish - mar or impair with a flaw; "her face was blemished" | |
| 3. |  blemish - add a flaw or blemish to; make imperfect or defectivedamage - inflict damage upon; "The snow damaged the roof"; "She damaged the car when she hit the tree" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
blemish
noun
1. mark, line, spot, scratch, bruise, scar, blur, defect, flaw, blot, smudge, imperfection, speck, blotch, disfigurement, pock, smirch the blemish on his face
mark improvement, perfection, purity, ornament, refinement, enhancement
mark improvement, perfection, purity, ornament, refinement, enhancement
2. defect, fault, weakness, stain, disgrace, deficiency, shortcoming, taint, inadequacy, dishonour, demerit the one blemish on an otherwise resounding success
verb
1. dishonour, mark, damage, spot, injure, ruin, mar, spoil, stain, blur, disgrace, impair, taint, tarnish, blot, smudge, disfigure, sully, deface, blotch, besmirch, smirch He wasn't about to blemish that pristine record. Nobody wanted to blemish his reputation at that time.
dishonour improve, perfect, correct, restore, enhance, refine, purify
dishonour improve, perfect, correct, restore, enhance, refine, purify
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
blemish
verbnoun
1. Something that mars the appearance or causes inadequacy or failure:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يُتْلِفُ، يُلَوِّثُيُلَطِّخُ
kazpokazitpoškoditposkvrnitskvrna
pletplette
jälkipilatatahratahrata
blettur; galliskemma
dėmėsugadinti
defektssabojātvaina
poškvrniť
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
blemish
vt object → beschädigen; work, beauty → beeinträchtigen; reputation, honour → beflecken; blemished skin → unreine Haut; blemished complexion → unreiner Teint
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
blemish
(ˈblemiʃ) noun a stain, mark or fault. a blemish on an apple.
verb to spoil.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
blem·ish
n. mancha, imperfección, defecto.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012