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
By November 2023, the Metropolitan Police had investigated nearly 1,000 incidents of vandalism.
—
Peter Guest, WIRED, 26 Mar. 2024
No arrests have been announced in the vandalism, but the New York Police Department said the investigation is ongoing.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 25 Mar. 2024
The Blue Valley school district this week is investigating another incident of vandalism, including hate speech against Black people and the LGBTQ community, found at Blue Valley High School.
—Sarah Ritter, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
Despite tight controls, several dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported.
—Emma Burrows and Dasha Litvinova, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Mar. 2024
Schultz said that volunteers reported the incident to a Border Patrol agent, sending him photos of the people involved in the vandalism and their vehicles, including their license plate numbers.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024
Then, the police went to another party member with a list of people wanted for the vandalism.
—John Eligon Joao Silva, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024
The 36-year-old Antioch man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and vandalism, and in connection with unrelated burglary charges, authorities said.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024
Couturier said the city was working on adding multiple stipulations to its use permit to address concerns that the campus will draw more homelessness and vandalism to the area or reduce property values.
—Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024
Peter Guest, WIRED, 26 Mar. 2024
No arrests have been announced in the vandalism, but the New York Police Department said the investigation is ongoing.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 25 Mar. 2024
The Blue Valley school district this week is investigating another incident of vandalism, including hate speech against Black people and the LGBTQ community, found at Blue Valley High School.
—Sarah Ritter, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
Despite tight controls, several dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported.
—Emma Burrows and Dasha Litvinova, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Mar. 2024
Schultz said that volunteers reported the incident to a Border Patrol agent, sending him photos of the people involved in the vandalism and their vehicles, including their license plate numbers.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024
Then, the police went to another party member with a list of people wanted for the vandalism.
—John Eligon Joao Silva, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024
The 36-year-old Antioch man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and vandalism, and in connection with unrelated burglary charges, authorities said.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024
Couturier said the city was working on adding multiple stipulations to its use permit to address concerns that the campus will draw more homelessness and vandalism to the area or reduce property values.
—Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vandalism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1798, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near vandalism
Cite this Entry
“Vandalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vandalism. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on vandalism
Nglish: Translation of vandalism for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of vandalism for Arabic Speakers
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