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

In 2004, Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yuschenko, running against a Russian favourite, was left permanently disfigured by a dioxin attack. —The Week Uk, TheWeek, 17 Feb. 2026

The incident left her face disfigured and her throat burned. —Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026

Ikram, now 26, survived the attack but was blinded in her right eye and permanently disfigured. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026

Use a sharp pair of pruners and be careful not to disfigure the shrub or tree while harvesting branches. —Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 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