vandalism
noun
van·dal·ism
ˈvan-də-ˌli-zəm 
: willful or malicious destruction or defacement of public or private property
Examples of vandalism in a Sentence
acts of theft and vandalism
He was arrested for vandalism.
Recent Examples on the Web
The woman had been in custody since Jan. 3 and was facing charges for assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, and felony vandalism, according to the office.
—
Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025
Full coverage car insurance, which adds comprehensive and collision protection, covers the theft or vandalism of your vehicle, but not personal property inside the car.
—Liz Knueven, CNBC, 13 June 2025
On Tuesday, Mayor Karen Bass imposed an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in the downtown area most impacted by protests against federal immigration enforcement, and by the violence, looting and vandalism that sometimes accompanied them.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
The curfew covers one square mile of downtown Los Angeles and is part of the city's strategy to quell ongoing looting and vandalism linked to the protests.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for vandalism
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Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025
Full coverage car insurance, which adds comprehensive and collision protection, covers the theft or vandalism of your vehicle, but not personal property inside the car.
—Liz Knueven, CNBC, 13 June 2025
On Tuesday, Mayor Karen Bass imposed an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in the downtown area most impacted by protests against federal immigration enforcement, and by the violence, looting and vandalism that sometimes accompanied them.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
The curfew covers one square mile of downtown Los Angeles and is part of the city's strategy to quell ongoing looting and vandalism linked to the protests.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for vandalism
Cite this Entry
“Vandalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vandalism. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vandalism
noun
van·dal·ism
ˈvan-dᵊl-ˌiz-əm
: intentional destruction or damage to property
Legal Definition
vandalism
noun
van·dal·ism
ˈvand-ᵊl-ˌi-zəm
: the willful or malicious destruction or defacement of property
insurance covering property damage from vandalism and malicious mischief
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