DEFACEMENTS Synonyms: 148 Similar and Opposite Words

deface 1 of 2

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

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

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

The cemetery, created in 1859, was abandoned and defaced before becoming the property of the county in 1967. — Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 4 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 defacements concerned city officials enough that Los Angeles Metro buses with Melania ads have been routed from some neighborhoods into other, presumably Melania-friendlier zones. — Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 31 Jan. 2026 Palombo learned of the complete defacement through private messages on his social media channels. — Gabriele Regalbuto, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deface

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deface

Verb

The Administration blamed individuals who allegedly vandalized the pool.

— Tiago Ventura, Time, 14 July 2026
The bench damage comes after a Canary Island pine tree trunk was vandalized twice with deep cuts in February, and again in May.

— Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2026

Definition of vandalize

Verb

Utah Jazz guard Trey Alexander was taken from the court on stretcher Monday night after appearing to injure his side on a drive to the basket in an NBA Summer League game against the Chicago Bulls.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
With Isak returning late from the World Cup and Hugo Ekitike injured, Danns has the ideal opportunity to put himself in Iraola’s thoughts.

— Andy Jones, New York Times, 14 July 2026

Definition of injure

Verb

That decision eliminated the creative accounting that has destroyed countless songwriting partnerships.

— Datwon Thomas, VIBE.com, 9 July 2026
The leaf-hopping insect destroyed more than 1,000 acres of grapevines in Northern California from 1994 to 2008, causing $30 million in damage, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

— Lizzie Kane July 9, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026

Definition of destroy

Verb

West Harbor is the redevelopment of the former waterfront Ports O'Call Village, which was demolished in 2018.

— Julie Sharp, CBS News, 14 July 2026
The two-acre space was the site of the California State Building, which suffered systemic damage in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake and was demolished five years later.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

Definition of demolish

Verb

Yet, money problems, sinister people and devastating setbacks also mar their experience.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 July 2026
He was elected in a landslide in July 2024, but quit after two years in office marred by missteps and judgment errors that eroded his standing with his party and the public.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026

Definition of mar

Verb

However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

— Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
But Neill doesn’t lean into the crotchety loner stereotype that could have ruined the entire film, finding a core of relatable decency in this outsider that instead holds the whole effort together with an honest humanity reflected in his choices.

— Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 14 July 2026

Definition of ruin

Verb

Russia has been doing this since the start of the war, terrorizing Ukrainian cities with aerial assaults that have killed thousands of civilians and crippled much of the country’s energy grid for months on end.

— Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 15 July 2026
Washington denounces Cuba’s overseas medical missions as exploitative and presses allies to drop them, but Calabria’s governor says losing the doctors would cripple care and vows to keep them.

— Paolo Santalucia, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of cripple

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Style

“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deface. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of deface

verb

noun

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