disfigure
verb
dis·fig·ure
dis-ˈfi-gyər 
especially British -ˈfi-gə
disfigured; disfiguring; disfigures
1
: to impair (as in beauty) by deep and persistent injuries
a face disfigured by smallpox
2
obsolete
: disguise
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
Born from Raimi’s desire to make a movie about pulp hero the Shadow before he was denied the rights by Universal, Darkman is an original creation, starring Liam Neeson as a scientist who is disfigured in a mob attack and given superpowers thanks to an experimental treatment.
—
James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
This Upper Paleolithic burial even became famous, though puzzling to researchers, because the unusual skeletal remains were even disfigured.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
The only one who cares about Pits is her young brother, who was horribly disfigured in a fire and is the target of bullies.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
Without their intervention, Baltimore’s waterfront would have been permanently disfigured, and the waterfront promenade the author praises today would never have been possible.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2026
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James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
This Upper Paleolithic burial even became famous, though puzzling to researchers, because the unusual skeletal remains were even disfigured.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
The only one who cares about Pits is her young brother, who was horribly disfigured in a fire and is the target of bullies.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
Without their intervention, Baltimore’s waterfront would have been permanently disfigured, and the waterfront promenade the author praises today would never have been possible.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disfigure
Cite this Entry
“Disfigure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disfigure. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
disfigure
verb
dis·fig·ure
dis-ˈfig-yər
especially British -ˈfig-ər
: to spoil the appearance of
disfigured by a scar
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