deface 1 of 2

verb

di-ˈfās How to pronounce deface (audio)
Definition of defacenext
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

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

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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
Verb
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 At least three campaign signs for Sacramento City Council candidate Jenn Chawla were defaced with racist slurs over the weekend. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2026
Noun
The tactics have transcended low-level website defacements and data theft too and now extend to more destructive attacks on systems such as energy grids, gas pipelines, and undersea cables. — Brian Walsh, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for deface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deface
  1. vandalize
  2. injure
  3. destroy
  4. damage
  5. demolish
  6. mar
  7. ruin
  8. cripple
Verb
  • The rental property, which Murphy and his unnamed 22-year-old girlfriend had allegedly been living in for three months, had also been vandalized.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Some 250 trees were planted along Shepard Road in 2024, only for 60 of them to be uprooted or vandalized a month later, followed by another 32 trees a year after that.
    — Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 July 2026
Definition of vandalize
Verb
  • On Sunday, Russia bombarded Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv with dozens of missiles and hundreds of strike drones, killing at least 11 and injuring scores more, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and media reports.
    — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 7 July 2026
  • The shootings, which also injured four people, occurred at two Fourth of July block parties about two miles apart, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of injure
Verb
  • The most common type of dementia, which destroys memory and cognitive function, was responsible for 116,022 deaths in 2024, NCHS data shows.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • That book is a revenge fantasy about the former art school professor who seduced her, discarded her and destroyed her confidence as a painter.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 2 July 2026
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • Some of these storms could be severe and deliver damaging wind gusts, but any thunderstorm will contain lightning — a major danger for any outdoor activities, especially for anyone trying to escape the heat in or on the water.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • Diseases that damage the kidneys and impair their ability to filter blood were blamed for 55,081 deaths in 2024.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of damage
Verb
  • Structures on the site, at 1451 Sproule Avenue, were demolished in 2005.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
  • The new space is just north of the existing terminal, which is to be demolished.
    — Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of demolish
Verb
  • While Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman delivered standout performances, Christian Pulisic's tournament was marred by injuries and a lack of goals.
    — Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Especially the guy who bangs a wrecking ball against the historic East Wing to make room for an incongruous ballroom monstrosity, who mars the sacred Oval Office with gold glitter and paves over the lovely Rose Garden.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of mar
Verb
  • Instead of fighting with Whitney, Lindsay has a talk with Yvonne about how Lindsay ruined Yvonne’s wedding by making it all about her.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 8 July 2026
  • However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
    — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado July 8, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of ruin
Verb
  • Data loss via staff cuts Widespread staff cuts starting in early 2025 across the Department of Health and Human Services, which houses the CDC, crippled much of the agency’s data collection and dissemination.
    — John Kubale, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
  • Florida didn’t have the cap space to work out the shorter term deal without crippling its ability to make other moves this offseason to enhance the roster.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Definition of cripple

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Cite this Entry

“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deface. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of deface for Spanish Speakers

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