disfigure

1 of 2

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

disfigurement

2 of 2

noun

dis·​fig·​ure·​ment -mənt 

plural -s

1

: the act of disfiguring or the state of being disfigured : defacement

2

: something that disfigures : blot

Synonyms of disfigure

Verb

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

Examples of disfigure in a Sentence

Verb

His face was disfigured by a scar.

the statue was seriously disfigured by falling rubble during the earthquake

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That surgery, which left the boy disfigured, should never have been performed on a patient of that age because the condition naturally resolves in 80% of patients, the medical board said. — Phoebe Quinton, AJC.com, 15 June 2026

The flames claimed the girls as collateral, scarring both of them but disfiguring Anaia, who worked the hardest to save Ruby. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

Foster pleaded guilty to one count of attempt to kill, disfigure, or maim an animal of another in June, according to the court record. — James Powel, USA Today, 15 May 2026

The disfiguring bulge in Dinah’s lower face went away. — Stephen King, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

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