1
as in to vandalize
to deliberately cause the damage or destruction of another's property
the principal vowed to get the punks who defaced the statue in front of the school
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to injure
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
years of wear had defaced the fine engraving on the coins
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deface
This was not one website defaced for headlines.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
This exclusion protects the home warranty company from homeowners who may try to get replacements for appliances or home system components by defacing or damaging them purposefully.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
And in the late 1980s, after Little Saigon found official recognition, freeway and street signs directing people to the community were frequently defaced and destroyed in disapproval, Hua said.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026
As restoration work gets underway on an East Side mural defaced with spray paint, organizers say the vandalism has only motivated them to stand up stronger for victims of police violence.
—Annasofia Scheve, San Antonio Express-News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deface
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
This exclusion protects the home warranty company from homeowners who may try to get replacements for appliances or home system components by defacing or damaging them purposefully.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
And in the late 1980s, after Little Saigon found official recognition, freeway and street signs directing people to the community were frequently defaced and destroyed in disapproval, Hua said.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026
As restoration work gets underway on an East Side mural defaced with spray paint, organizers say the vandalism has only motivated them to stand up stronger for victims of police violence.
—Annasofia Scheve, San Antonio Express-News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deface
Verb
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Sandoval asked the community not to vandalize those structures or vehicles out of disappointment or anger.—
Brian Sherrod,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
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Baumann testified that Evetts joined him in vandalizing the vehicles parked in the facility’s adjacent lot and breaking a surveillance camera.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As the current supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has stayed out of the spotlight amid speculation he was injured by a strike, Larijani was largely seen as in command of the country since the former ayatollah’s death.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Mar. 2026
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Separately, Tehran also fired a projectile near an Australian airbase in the United Arab Emirates, according to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese — no personnel were injured.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Weeks later, his father was killed in a fire that destroyed the home Hamlin purchased to thank his parents for getting him into NASCAR.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
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Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said its systems intercepted and destroyed 10 drones over the capital, Riyadh, and the kingdom’s eastern region.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, issued an Enhanced to Moderate Risk of Severe Weather on Monday, which includes dangerous thunderstorms, damaging winds, and the possibility of a few strong tornadoes.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
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Frost and freeze conditions will damage unprotected vegetation that is sensitive to freezing temperatures.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 39-year-old photographer from Beirut captured a stunning sequence of images in the early hours of Wednesday, showing an IDF missile demolishing a tower block in one fell swoop.—
Raf Sanchez,
NBC news,
19 Mar. 2026
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With the convention center demolished for renovations, festivalgoers moving between key areas like Rainey Street and Congress Avenue felt the city’s transportation gaps more acutely.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, an earnestness mars most of the proceedings.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
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Jimmy Carter Carter's presidency was marred by domestic and foreign-policy challenges.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The evening's historic tie almost gets totally ruined For only the seventh time in history, the Oscar vote ended in a tie.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Massive piles of trash with rotting food accumulate in residential areas as the fuel shortage has crippled waste collection services.—
Carmen Sesin,
NBC news,
16 Mar. 2026
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But that doesn’t mean mathematicians would be crippled with ennui, Litt says.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deface. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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