recent update of np++

It’s traditional when making a complaint to cite the version you are currently running, as well as the version you were last running when it worked properly (if you can remember that, of course).

search results text is blurred

I have never seen such blurriness in only certain windows of the program. Just a wild thought here, but maybe experiment with the Direct Write setting. Probably won’t have any effect, but it is about the only thing that comes to mind for me.

Anyway to set the default font size/zoom level?

Not specifically and independently for Search results. The zoom level goes back to zero when Notepad++ is exited and restarted. The font size after a restart is the same as the font size for the editing window (at its zoom level 0). Side note: The zoom level for the main editing window IS retained from run to run of Notepad++.