blighted

[ blahy-tid ]

adjective

1. Plant Pathology. affected with blight, a disease or condition characterized by the rapid and extensive discoloration, wilting, and death of plant tissues:

   Small, black fungal fruiting bodies form on the blighted twigs and produce infective spores.

2. dilapidated or deteriorated:

   They saw the potential for the blighted building to provide affordable housing once renovated, and took on the project.

3. (of a region, city, area, etc.) not flourishing; stagnant, run-down, socially depressed, etc.:

   A new fitness center and natural foods market are replacing a blighted corner with jobs, economic activity, and healthier lifestyles.

4. ruined or marred:

   The people who forget their past are condemned to a blighted future.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of blight.

Other Words From

• un·blight·ed adjective
• un·blight·ed·ly adverb
• un·blight·ed·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of blighted¹

blight + -ed ²( def ) blight fordefs 1, 2, 4; blight + -ed ³( def ) blight fordef 3; blight + -ed ¹( def ) blighted fordef 5

Example Sentences

Earlier this year Baltimore unveiled new plans to help regenerate its blighted neighbourhoods.

From BBC

The early part of Draper's professional career was blighted by physical issues, but his charge in New York has come as a result of being more robust this season.

From BBC

Schools are welcoming children back with an assembly promoting "respect and tolerance", after the summer holidays were blighted by riots.

From BBC

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she wanted to introduce a "better-controlled" system to replace "the chaos that has blighted the system for far too long".

From BBC

Last year saw the lough, the UK's largest freshwater lake, was blighted by large blooms of the potentially toxic blue-green algae.

From BBC

Related Words

• broken
• demolished
• devastated
• lost
• ravaged
• ruined
• shattered
• smashed
• wrecked