DEFACE Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

deface

verb

di-ˈfās

Definition of deface

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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of deface Following the silent protest, MLB warned players not to deface their uniforms. — David K. Li, NBC news, 23 June 2026 No patriots so defaced America as those who, in the name of Americanism, launched a witch hunt that became a byword around the world. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 Trump, in one of his Truth Social posts, cited laws against defacing monuments as grounds for imprisoning anyone harming the pool. — Nathan Ellgren, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026 That was the last time the sign was defaced. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for deface

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deface

Verb

There were blowouts, upsets, quarterback debuts, coaching debuts and enough disorder for one week of college football to vandalize months of offseason consensus.

— The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Dolly Parton‘s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has been replaced after the original one was vandalized following the country superstar’s death.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of vandalize

Verb

Less than a week after Baltimore spent $5 million to claim him off waivers, Robert injured his hamstring.

— Andy McCullough, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
At a separate Ohio event, an armed assailant charged toward Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton during a Sunday stop at the Canfield Fair and injured several people before he was stopped by troopers, authorities said.

— Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of injure

Verb

After Israel destroyed Jenin refugee camp during the Second Intifada in 2002, a young girl looked into Mohammad Bakri’s camera and said that Palestinians would live proudly as eagles and die standing like lions.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
That’s because key refineries that produce it have been knocked offline or destroyed, both in Eastern Europe — where the Ukraine-Russia war still rages — and in the Middle East.

— Steve Kopack, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of destroy

Verb

Extensive lines backed up at Kauai's primary airport as people tried to leave the island; state officials said the airport was operating on a lone backup generator because a second generator was damaged by the storm.

— GENE JOHNSON, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
The precise composition of ancient Egyptian paints, binders, adhesives, and similar materials used to make artifacts is largely unknown, in part because a full analysis would require taking samples that would damage those valuable artifacts.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of damage

Verb

Historical records show that about 500,000 bricks were sold after the convent was demolished, but Langkilde said a complex of its size could easily have contained twice that number.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
The new 191,000-square-foot police station replaces one that was built in 1958 and demolished earlier this year.

— Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of demolish

Verb

The tenures of the two subsequent chief baseball executives, Billy Eppler and Minasian, were marred by Moreno’s intrusions, sources said.

— Andy McCullough, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Amnesty International had called on the Court of Cassation to overturn the convictions, describing the case as politically motivated and saying the trial was marred by due process and other violations.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of mar

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“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deface. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of deface

verb

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