deface

verb

de·​face di-ˈfās 

dē-

defaced; defacing; defaces

transitive verb

1

: to mar the appearance of : injure by effacing significant details

deface an inscription

2

: impair

3

obsolete : destroy

defacement

di-ˈfās-mənt 

dē-

noun

defacer noun

Synonyms of deface

• vandalize
• destroy
• demolish
• ruin
• smash
• violate

Examples of deface in a Sentence

The building was defaced with graffiti.

He was fined for defacing public property.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the entertainment capital of the world, promotional materials — including posters and signs at bus stops — for Melania have been defaced with Hitler mustaches, devil horns, and crude graffiti. —Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2026

Not to mention an endless supply of bus-stop posters in major cities across America — which keep getting defaced and replaced. —Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026

Someone who should not stumble into this, who should not have to see the grave of her loved one defaced. —Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026

Vandals defaced a boulder and other sites at Yosemite National Park with graffiti over the weekend. —Stephen Sorace , Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French *desfacer, *deffacer, from des- de- + face front, face

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for deface

• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace
• blackface
• boldface
• bookcase
• braincase
• briefcase
• carcase

Kids Definition

deface

verb

de·​face di-ˈfās 

: to destroy or damage the face or surface of

defacement

-ˈfās-mənt 

noun

defacer noun

Legal Definition

deface

transitive verb

de·​face di-ˈfās 

defaced; defacing

: to destroy or mar the face or surface of

defacement noun

defacer noun