blight

Plural: blights

Noun

• a state or condition being blighted
• any plant disease resulting in withering without rotting
• A diseased condition suffered by a plant; specifically, a complete and rapid chlorosis, browning, then death of plant tissues such as floral organs, leaves, branches, or twigs, especially one caused by a fungus; a mildew, a rust, a smut.
• The cause of such a condition, often unseen but believed to be airborne; specifically, a bacterium, a virus, or (especially) a fungus; also, an aphid which attacks fruit trees.
• A state of cloudy, humid weather.
• A diseased condition of the face or skin; specifically, bleeding under the conjunctiva of the eye, a form of skin rash, or a palsy of the face due to cold.
• Something that impedes development or growth, or spoils any other aspect of life.
• A rundown and unsightly condition of an urban area; also, such an area.

Verb

Verb Forms: blighted, blighting, blights

• To cause decay or destruction, especially to plants.
• cause to suffer a blight
  • "Too much rain may blight the garden with mold"
• To affect the fertility or growth of (a plant) with a blight (noun sense 1.1), especially one caused by a fungus; to blast, to mildew, to smut.
• To affect (a body part) with a disease.
• To impede the development or growth of (an aspect of life); to damage, to ruin, to spoil.
• Of a plant: to suffer blight (noun sense 1.1).

Examples

• One misplaced tile can blight an otherwise perfect triple word score opportunity in Scrabble.
• This vine never blights.
• Those obscene tattoos are going to blight your job prospects.

Synonyms

plague, ball up, blight, blighten, botch, bugger up, bungle, crab, dirty, disrupt, disturb, fuck up, jack up, mar, mess up, mishandle, mommick, pollute, put a crimp in, queer, ruin, screw up, sour, spoil, stain, turn upside down, undo, upset, upset the applecart, vitiate

Anagrams of blight