disfigure

verb

dis·​fig·​ure dis-ˈfi-gyər 

 especially British  -ˈfi-gə

disfigured; disfiguring; disfigures

transitive verb

1

: to impair (as in beauty) by deep and persistent injuries

a face disfigured by smallpox

2

obsolete : disguise

disfigurement

dis-ˈfi-gyər-mənt 

 especially British  -ˈfi-gə-

noun

Synonyms

• blemish
• bloody
• break
• compromise
• crab
• cripple
• cross (up)
• damage
• deface
• endamage
• flaw
• harm
• hurt
• impair
• injure
• mar
• spoil
• vitiate

Examples of disfigure in a Sentence

His face was disfigured by a scar.

the statue was seriously disfigured by falling rubble during the earthquake

Recent Examples on the Web

Mathematicians are deciphered, disfigured, discounted, and dissolved. —Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025

Electrocution appears to burn and disfigure. —CBS News, 7 Mar. 2025

The woman had lacerations to her scalp and lip that required 17 sutures, five staples, leaving her permanently disfigured, officials said. —Paloma Chavez, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2025

Benedict Chiu, United States, 2023 A member of a famous K-Pop boy band whose face has been disfigured by an accident must undergo surgery to repair his fracturing image. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French desfigurer, from des- dis- + figure figure

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for disfigure

• configure
• prefigure
• figure
• reconfigure

Kids Definition

disfigure

verb

dis·​fig·​ure dis-ˈfig-yər 

 especially British  -ˈfig-ər

: to spoil the appearance of

disfigured by a scar

disfigurement

-mənt 

noun