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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
-
As the sugar circulates throughout the body, it is absorbed by cancer cells and shows tumors invisible on standard X-rays.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
14 July 2025
-
After having a tumor roughly the size of a small basketball on her right ovary removed before the diagnosis, doctors then removed a smaller one on her left ovary three months later, the hospital said.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
This doesn’t help since defects cluster and entire batches quietly go rogue while the QA team nods at those green dashboards.—
Raghu Para,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
As more cars rely on advanced software, addressing defects quickly is essential to protect drivers, passengers and pedestrians, and to maintain trust in automotive safety standards.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
The grill has a large hopper, which Masterbuilt claims holds up to 12 hours’ worth of lump charcoal, and feeds the heat to the cook chamber via a fan.—
Chris Morris,
Fortune,
3 July 2025
-
Stay away from any watermelons that are shiny, unevenly shaped, or have visible damage, including bruises, cuts, soft spots, bulges, or lumps.—
Brittany Poulson,
Verywell Health,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
White blotches — the frostbitten tissue — swelled on the roof of his mouth, uvula and throat.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
2 July 2025
-
Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
With the scars of the possible anti-LGBTQ+ attack still visible, here was The Sugar Maple, not deterred.—
Jack Albright,
jsonline.com,
8 July 2025
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The matter is complicated by the 2022 inflation crisis — the worst in 40 years — and the psychological scars from that episode.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
Her dwarfism caused a kidney deformity, and she's been in kidney failure for most of her life.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 July 2025
-
However, severe, inflexible deformities that need aggressive bony carpentry to correct the spine’s alignment carry complication rates up to 60%, with major deformity surgeries posing a 1% mortality risk within a year.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Excrescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excrescence. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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