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2
as in defect
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing
local residents regard the hulking apartment building as a hideous excrescence on their once-lovely street
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of excrescence
It was argued that the condition of Russia was a special one; that, elsewhere, the problem was rather one of dealing with the excrescences of the capitalist system than with capitalism itself.
—
Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2011
But if the art market seems like an excrescence on a more limited and refined definition of the art world — focused on art, artists, museums, nonprofit arts organizations and the passion of art lovers and connoisseurs — then Sotheby’s capture of the building is impossible to celebrate.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 6 June 2023
One suspects that that weird brown hair-excrescence thing had something to do with it.
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 15 Jan. 2021
Each generation sees the technological advances of the previous era—no matter how near—as excrescences of an ancient world.
—Maël Renouard, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2020
His nationalism, in expression hyperbolic enough, essentially takes the form of virulent tropes of anti-socialism, anti-feminism and homophobia, excrescences alien to the Brazilian soul.
—Will Meyer, Longreads, 4 Oct. 2019
This concrete excrescence, remnant of a barbaric plan to encase the city in freeways, isn’t necessary and could be scrubbed off the landscape with a little bit of enlightened leadership.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2019
Various external forces coincided to make Kuma’s flirtation with monumental excrescences an abortive one.
—Nikil Saval, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2018
His evidence comes not only from obscure and difficult literary testimonia but from tree rings, ice cores and speleothems (excrescences found in caves from which ancient humidity levels can be deduced).
—James Romm, WSJ, 27 Oct. 2017
Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2011
But if the art market seems like an excrescence on a more limited and refined definition of the art world — focused on art, artists, museums, nonprofit arts organizations and the passion of art lovers and connoisseurs — then Sotheby’s capture of the building is impossible to celebrate.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 6 June 2023
One suspects that that weird brown hair-excrescence thing had something to do with it.
—Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 15 Jan. 2021
Each generation sees the technological advances of the previous era—no matter how near—as excrescences of an ancient world.
—Maël Renouard, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2020
His nationalism, in expression hyperbolic enough, essentially takes the form of virulent tropes of anti-socialism, anti-feminism and homophobia, excrescences alien to the Brazilian soul.
—Will Meyer, Longreads, 4 Oct. 2019
This concrete excrescence, remnant of a barbaric plan to encase the city in freeways, isn’t necessary and could be scrubbed off the landscape with a little bit of enlightened leadership.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2019
Various external forces coincided to make Kuma’s flirtation with monumental excrescences an abortive one.
—Nikil Saval, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2018
His evidence comes not only from obscure and difficult literary testimonia but from tree rings, ice cores and speleothems (excrescences found in caves from which ancient humidity levels can be deduced).
—James Romm, WSJ, 27 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excrescence
Noun
-
The increase was found in certain types of cancer including leukemias, lymphomas, brain tumors, hepatic tumors, and gonadal germ cell tumors, according to the study.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, is no longer responding to treatment for an aggressive and malignant brain tumor known as glioblastoma, with which she was diagnosed in 2022.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The children all had a variety of birth defects, including missing or underdeveloped fingers, clubbed feet, heart defects, eye problems and skin conditions, per The Times.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Today, a fetus diagnosed with a complex heart defect can receive care that grants them a future once thought impossible.—
Jack Rychik and Craig Fleishman,
Orlando Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Stay for dinner with weekly specials including lobster ravioli and squid ink fettuccine with lump crab meat.—
Samantha Nelson,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
-
The extensive menu is accented by all kinds of coastal favorites—from the popular she-crab soup and Charleston-style lump crab cakes to jambalaya and lobster bisque.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Brighter yellow and golden blotches run along its forehead, sides and lower back.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2025
-
The resulting arrangement made the cheese clumps stand out as dark blotches in the photographs taken with an iPhone mounted on a tripod.—
Alexander Nazaryan,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Male sharks are also known to bite females during mating, leaving distinctive scars.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
-
The Moon, meanwhile, still bears many large scars from this period, because its surface is far less active.—
Michael Irving,
New Atlas,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The disaster declaration comes almost a year after five farmers living near Grandview sued the EPA after their livestock died or were born with deformities, alleging the agency failed to regulate forever chemicals.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Feb. 2025
-
Even less savory is the dwelling on body horror, with characters sporting sometimes inexplicable skin conditions or other deformities.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Excrescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excrescence. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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