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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deface
Police also discovered that the children slept in cribs and defaced monsters and dolls were also found in their rooms, per El Mundo.
—
Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 1 May 2025
As protests against Elon Musk's Tesla brand are sweeping the United States, one California man's sense of security is left shaken after a masked suspect was caught on camera defacing his family’s Tesla Cybertruck in the driveway of their home last weekend.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
The Memphis Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that Zachary Liberto, 30, was arrested following a verbal altercation with the priest about defacing the baptismal pool inside the church.
—Stepheny Price, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2025
That same day vandals broke windows and defaced a dealership in the San Diego area with swastikas and slogans.
—Minho Kim, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 1 May 2025
As protests against Elon Musk's Tesla brand are sweeping the United States, one California man's sense of security is left shaken after a masked suspect was caught on camera defacing his family’s Tesla Cybertruck in the driveway of their home last weekend.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
The Memphis Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that Zachary Liberto, 30, was arrested following a verbal altercation with the priest about defacing the baptismal pool inside the church.
—Stepheny Price, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2025
That same day vandals broke windows and defaced a dealership in the San Diego area with swastikas and slogans.
—Minho Kim, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deface
Verb
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Hundreds of peonies were vandalized and pro-Palestinian signs were left behind at the University of Michigan's botanical gardens, officials said.—
Elissa Robinson,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
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On June 15, 2020, amid nationwide racial-justice protests, it was discovered that the statue's base was vandalized with varnish.—
Amir Mahmoud,
Arkansas Online,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Federal officials said one immigration agent was injured when a rock shattered his vehicle’s windshield, and the U.S. Marshals Service reported arrests for obstructing operations, according to the Times.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
8 June 2025
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Among those injured was an infant and a 14-year-old girl, according to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.—
Natalya Kushnir,
ABC News,
7 June 2025
Verb
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Aid distributed inside Israeli military zones Gaza’s roughly 2 million Palestinians are almost completely reliant on international aid because nearly all food production capabilities have been destroyed.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
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The strike was also part of a broader pattern of attacks on healthcare facilities, which resulted in approximately 80% of the city’s healthcare facilities being critically damaged or destroyed.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
Verb
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In addition to direct contact, Toxoplasma may also damage sperm because the infection promotes chronic inflammation.—
Bill Sullivan,
The Conversation,
28 May 2025
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The fire began on the third floor, severely damaging the entire level, while water damage affected the floors below.—
Samantha Moilanen,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
Verb
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In 2012, Texas Wesleyan went to the city’s historic and cultural landmarks commission seeking permission to demolish the home for further campus expansion, but were denied.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 June 2025
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Goldschmidt has demolished the NL Central in his career, with a slash line of .291/.388/.527 in almost 550 games played.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
Verb
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However, relatively decent growth fueled by Putin's record military spending has been marred by inflation and a worker shortage impacted by those fleeing the draft and troop losses in Ukraine as experts warn of longer terms problems for the economy.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
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Albania, which has started full membership negotiations with the European Union, has been plagued in its post-communist era with corruption that has marred its democratic, economic and social development.—
Llazar Semini,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
Verb
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The relationship between Ludovico and Silvia sparked deadly resentment—Ludovico feared Giorgio might expose the affair and ruin his reputation.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
3 June 2025
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There were missions that felt like a rally racing mini-game, asking me to navigate between timer-extending rings dotting barren desert ruins.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2025
Verb
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About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.—
Shira Ovide,
Washington Post,
4 Apr. 2023
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Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.—
Anthony Maluso,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deface. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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