vandalism

noun

van·​dal·​ism ˈvan-də-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce vandalism (audio)
: willful or malicious destruction or defacement of public or private property

Examples of vandalism in a Sentence

acts of theft and vandalism He was arrested for vandalism.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Also in August, Edward Alexander Dana, who was arrested on vandalism charges, was accused of threatening the President while in police custody. Chad De Guzman, Time, 4 Nov. 2025 Sino-Metals blamed the dam collapse on vandalism and heavy rainfall, but the company has reportedly sought to ensure that any compensation is tied to silence. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025 Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer and has historically held great interest for foreign investors in the sector, despite teething problems of vandalism and violence that have turned some international oil companies away in recent years. Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 29 Oct. 2025 The thefts come amid a rash of anti-LGBTQ+ vandalism and thefts. Samantha Riedel, Them., 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vandalism

Word History

Etymology

vandal + -ism

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vandalism was in 1798

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vandalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vandalism. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

vandalism

noun
van·​dal·​ism ˈvan-dᵊl-ˌiz-əm How to pronounce vandalism (audio)
: intentional destruction or damage to property

Legal Definition

vandalism

noun
van·​dal·​ism ˈvand-ᵊl-ˌi-zəm How to pronounce vandalism (audio)
: the willful or malicious destruction or defacement of property
insurance covering property damage from vandalism and malicious mischief

More from Merriam-Webster on vandalism

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