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 of disfigure

• injure
• damage
• mar
• cripple
• hurt
• weaken
• impair

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

People are dying regularly from lithium-ion batteries and people are being disfigured. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026

Tom Rhys Harries stars as an actor who turns to AI and nanotechnology for a radical solution after a mob boss disfigures him. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026

Rama intervenes and instructs Lakshmana to disfigure Shurpanakha. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

This condition can be painful and visibly disfiguring for people impacted. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

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