verb

have a severely detrimental effect on.

the scandal blighted the careers of several leading politicians

ruin,wreck,spoil,disrupt,undo,mar,play havoc with,make a mess of,put an end to,end,bring to an end,put a stop to,prevent,frustrate,crush,quell,quash,dash,destroy,scotch,shatter,devastate,demolish,sabotage,mess up,screw up,louse up,foul up,make a hash of,do in,put paid to,put the lid on,put the kibosh on,stymie,queer,nix,banjax,blow a hole in,scupper,dish,euchre,cruel,bring to naught