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
Relevance
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
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
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
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Not all municipalities celebrate Nov. 20 today, for example, and Zumbi monuments have been defaced with racist graffiti.
—Time, 17 June 2025
Over the years, around 30 people would be arrested for toppling or otherwise defacing the cross, according to Enquirer reports at the time.
—Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Their words come as demonstrations roil the streets, defacing public property and lighting cars on fire in response to 44 arrests made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
Verb
Someone has defaced it with the words BURN IN HELL, either in paint or blood.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Not all municipalities celebrate Nov. 20 today, for example, and Zumbi monuments have been defaced with racist graffiti.
—Time, 17 June 2025
Over the years, around 30 people would be arrested for toppling or otherwise defacing the cross, according to Enquirer reports at the time.
—Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Their words come as demonstrations roil the streets, defacing public property and lighting cars on fire in response to 44 arrests made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deface
Verb
-
Advertisement Advertisement The legislation was passed in response to an incident in which activists from the group broke into a Royal Air Force base and vandalized two tanker aircraft in protest against the United Kingdom’s support for Israel, and against Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
9 Aug. 2025
-
After the Montana couple had carefully set up for their June 28 celebration, the White Sulphur Springs venue was vandalized, per KTVQ.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
After hearing more cries for help, searchers found the missing climber, who had been injured, at 4:16 a.m.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
18 Aug. 2025
-
With Ter Stegen injured and the returning Wojciech Szczesny not yet registered either, having signed a new contract in July after his initial short-term from last September expired.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The vandalism occurred sometime between 8 p.m. on Monday and 7 a.m. on Tuesday at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Meriden.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
12 Aug. 2025
-
The Greenwood vandalism marks the third time a Hindu place of worship has been vandalized so far in the US in 2025, according to the Coalition of Hindus of North America.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Large dangerous waves will likely inundate and destroy protective dune structures.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Protective sand dunes could be inundated and destroyed, which could lead to severe flooding inland, National Park Service officials at Cape Hatteras National Seashore warned Monday.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Hailey has an even rarer type of the illness, an extreme form of hemophilia B. That means bleeding inside his body could damage organs or tissue and quickly put his life at risk.—
Beth Warren,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
-
The suspect, Kevin Charles Pyles, allegedly admitted to wanting to damage the synagogue and blamed minorities for his unemployment, officials say.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Even an old grain silo near the former Nickel Plate train station raised a few hackles when it was demolished.—
John Tuohy,
IndyStar,
14 Aug. 2025
-
When a building gets demolished, what happens to all that concrete, glass, stone or metal?—
Sydney Franklin,
The Enquirer,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Boston comes in with three straight losses marring otherwise agreeable vibes.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Many worried that the marshy western shore of the borough had been forever marred.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Miami Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
-
But a sewer backup during this weekend's historic flood ruined 60 of the backpacks, Maya Bell reports.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deface. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share