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efface

play
verb ef·face \ i-ˈfās , e- \

Definition of efface

effaced; effacing
transitive verb
1 :to eliminate or make indistinct by or as if by wearing away a surface
  • coins with dates effaced by wear
; also :to cause to vanish
  • daylight effaced the stars
2 :to make (oneself) modestly or shyly inconspicuous
—

effaceable

play \i-ˈfā-sə-bəl, e-\ adjective
—

effacer

noun

See efface defined for English-language learners

See efface defined for kids

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Examples of efface in a Sentence

  1. coins with dates effaced by wear

  2. a memory effaced by time

Recent Examples of efface from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'efface.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of efface

Middle English, from Anglo-French esfacer, effacer, from e- + face face

efface Synonyms

Synonyms
abolish, black out, blot out, cancel, clean (up), annihilate, eradicate, erase, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, liquidate, obliterate, root (out), rub out, snuff (out), stamp (out), sweep (away), wipe out
Related Words
decimate, demolish, destroy, devastate, ravage; dismantle, flatten, mow (down), raze, tear down; ruin, total, waste, wreck; blast, blow up, dash, dynamite, smash; atomize, consume, devour, dissolve, fragment, powder, pulverize, shatter, splinter; doom, finish, kill, kill off, terminate, zap; cancel, cut, discard, ditch, eject, excise, expel, jettison, oust, throw out
Near Antonyms
conserve, preserve, protect, save; build, construct, create, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, shape; fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renew, renovate, repair, restore, revamp

EFFACE Defined for English Language Learners

efface

play
verb

Definition of efface for English Language Learners

  • : to cause (something) to fade or disappear

EFFACE Defined for Kids

efface

play
verb ef·face \ i-ˈfās \

Definition of efface for Students

effaced; effacing
:to cause to fade or disappear
  • … she wished to efface the memory of yesterday's failure …
  • —Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Learn More about efface

  1. See words that rhyme with efface Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for efface Spanish Central: Translation of efface Nglish: Translation of efface for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of efface for Arabic speakers

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Examples: efface in a Sentence