defaced; defacing; defaces
1
: to mar the appearance of : injure by effacing significant details
deface an inscription
2
: impair
3
obsolete
: destroy
defacer
noun
Examples of deface in a Sentence
The building was defaced with graffiti.
He was fined for defacing public property.
Recent Examples on the Web
That was the last time the sign was defaced.
—
Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 12 June 2026
The cemetery, created in 1859, was abandoned and defaced before becoming the property of the county in 1967.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
At least three campaign signs for Sacramento City Council candidate Jenn Chawla were defaced with racist slurs over the weekend.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
These public acts were meant not only to deface property, but to send a message of intimidation.
—Laurence Milstein, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deface
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Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 12 June 2026
The cemetery, created in 1859, was abandoned and defaced before becoming the property of the county in 1967.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
At least three campaign signs for Sacramento City Council candidate Jenn Chawla were defaced with racist slurs over the weekend.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
These public acts were meant not only to deface property, but to send a message of intimidation.
—Laurence Milstein, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deface
Cite this Entry
“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deface. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
deface
transitive verb
de·face
di-ˈfās 
defaced; defacing
: to destroy or mar the face or surface of
defacement
noun
defacer
noun
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