blemish

The only blemish on his magnificent career is the failure – not his alone it must be stressed – to add to the one men's World Cup won in 1966.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

And in a culture so hellbent on idol worship and exhausting discourse, where every blemish is smoothed out or screamed at, “SNL” still offers us something scrappy and unvarnished.

From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2026

This ensures that a credit blemish isn’t missed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 24, 2026

The only blemish is a silver medal finish at the Grand Prix Final.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2026

And he was withal as clear and candid; not a blemish or spot to tarnish his reputation.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

“We would cover any obvious blemishes but otherwise literally pinched their cheeks.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Coating cools while dripping from an arm, smiles askew send mixed signals, smeared eyes like they’d been up late partying with the tarts, blemishes, cracked sugary skin.

From Salon ● Feb. 5, 2026

Sure, there were blemishes to their 20-17 overtime victory at Chicago on Sunday night, just as their three-point win at Carolina had its wild-card warts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 19, 2026

There were some blemishes on an otherwise solid print.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2025

There were a few blemishes, according to the magazine, but they came from Odessa.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

Mbarak fears that view may soon be blemished by passing oil tankers, and the breeze could carry industrial odors from the refinery.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

That record is blemished by his removal from an assignment based on his Francis-like tendencies, which may have had a hand in his failure to rise above the lowest of the U.S.

From Slate ● Apr. 13, 2026

Shoppers can also keep an eye out for blemished or less than aesthetically ideal produce while at the store.

From Salon ● Apr. 9, 2024

The two hour and 15 minute show, blemished only by some occasionally muddy sound, touched on mortality a number of times.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 18, 2024

Stared up at the full moon's blemished face.

From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos

The ruckus is blemishing what had been a successful period for Ukraine’s military, which has stopped some Russian advances and even regained a bit of territory over recent months.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

Senate when she died, and questions about her mental capacity shadowed her final years in office, blemishing her reputation and forcing her to repeatedly fend off calls to resign.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2023

In any event, there’s no longer a need for the Kraken to be fearful of losses blemishing their pretty record.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 21, 2022

Washington got one Tuesday night when it toppled the Golden State Warriors, 112-108, blemishing the record of the best team in basketball.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 28, 2017

Twice!” and she laughed aloud before her mirror, revealing the pink arch of her mouth, and two perfect sets of yellow-white teeth, with only one blemishing spot of gold visible. 

From An Ambitious Man by Ella Wheeler Wilcox