Synonyms of deface

deface 1 of 2

verb

di-ˈfās 

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

• vandalize
• destroy
• demolish
• ruin
• smash
• violate
• damage
• trash
• desecrate
• break
• wreck
• impair
• harm
• hurt
• mar
• shatter
• spoil
• sack
• sabotage
• tag
• ravage
• raze
• graffiti
• waste
• despoil
• annihilate
• loot
• devastate
• wipe out
• plunder
• pillage
• ransack
• wrack
• scourge
• tear down
• total
• bang up
• maraud
• raven
• depredate
• spoliate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protect
• preserve
• save
• conserve
• build
• salvage
• rebuild

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

• injure
• damage
• mar
• cripple
• hurt
• weaken
• disfigure
• compromise
• spoil
• impair
• destroy
• erode
• harm
• break
• bloody
• ruin
• undermine
• vitiate
• flaw
• blemish
• cross (up)
• shatter
• crab
• deteriorate
• wound
• demolish
• tarnish
• scour
• wear (away)
• endamage
• enfeeble
• wreck
• mutilate
• batter
• blight
• smash
• dent
• maim
• devastate
• wash out
• enervate
• disable
• botch
• raze
• lacerate
• annihilate
• ding
• mangle
• pulverize
• crush
• waste
• torture
• decimate
• gum (up)
• desolate
• wipe out
• queer
• clobber
• torment
• dint
• bash
• scourge
• hamstring
• tear down
• total
• dash
• do in
• lame
• bang up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reconstruct
• repair
• rebuild
• patch
• renovate
• fix
• help
• revamp
• mend
• rehabilitate
• heal
• rectify
• revise
• recondition
• cure
• remedy
• edit
• improve
• enhance
• remodel
• better
• doctor
• enrich
• perfect
• refine
• ameliorate
• meliorate

defacement

2 of 2

noun

as in vandalism

deliberate damaging or destroying of another's property

the defacement of the school's property ended up costing hundreds of dollars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vandalism
• vandalization
• destruction
• defacing
• trashing
• wrecking
• desecration
• sabotage
• demolishing
• ruin
• ruination
• demolishment
• ravaging
• looting
• ravage
• desecrating
• plundering
• spoliation
• predation
• depredation
• despoiling
• plunder
• pillaging
• pillage
• marauding
• sacking
• despoilment
• ransacking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protection
• conservation
• preservation
• saving
• salvage

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of deface

Verb

This is now the third attempt to deface this sacred memorial and turn it into a vanity project for one man’s ego. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026

The building's pine ceilings were in disrepair and its brick walls were damaged, poorly painted, or defaced with graffiti. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026

Noun

Regardless, following the Roonstrasse defacement, a wave of additional antisemitic vandalism spread throughout West Germany and other places, including the United States. — Daniela R. P. Weiner, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026

This can include denial-of-service attacks, in which hackers try to jam a network so legitimate users cannot use it, and website defacements, which can prevent a company from communicating with customers. — ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026