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
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
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Recent Examples of deface
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025
Many of its icons were missing, and those that remained had been defaced.
—Ben Hubbard, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Gannon, one of 80 or 90 agents assigned to the case, testified that serial numbers had been defaced from gun parts possibly so that law enforcement could not trace them.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025
Although the Diocese typically purchases a vendor booth for Pride, Danielson says progressive faith leaders stepped up their support after a local rainbow mural was defaced in May 2024.
—Nico Lang, Them., 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
Verb
That same year, a vandal at the Tate Modern in London deliberately defaced Rothko’s 1958 painting Black on Maroon (1958) with graffiti.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025
Many of its icons were missing, and those that remained had been defaced.
—Ben Hubbard, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Gannon, one of 80 or 90 agents assigned to the case, testified that serial numbers had been defaced from gun parts possibly so that law enforcement could not trace them.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025
Although the Diocese typically purchases a vendor booth for Pride, Danielson says progressive faith leaders stepped up their support after a local rainbow mural was defaced in May 2024.
—Nico Lang, Them., 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deface
Verb
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Hundreds of peonies were vandalized and pro-Palestinian signs were left behind at the University of Michigan's botanical gardens, officials said.—
Elissa Robinson,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
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On June 15, 2020, amid nationwide racial-justice protests, it was discovered that the statue's base was vandalized with varnish.—
Amir Mahmoud,
Arkansas Online,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Federal officials said one immigration agent was injured when a rock shattered his vehicle’s windshield, and the U.S. Marshals Service reported arrests for obstructing operations, according to the Times.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
8 June 2025
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During the Paramount protest, at least one protester was injured, witnesses reported.—
Rachel Uranga,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
Noun
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For example, Tesla shares increased in value after Trump’s election last year before decreasing drastically early in the president’s administration amid boycotts and vandalism.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
1 June 2025
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Residents and city officials have raised concerns that the reopening of the 11-mile stretch of PCH on May 23 will make neighborhoods that were damaged or destroyed by the Franklin and Palisades fires more vulnerable to theft and vandalism.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2025
Verb
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Aid distributed inside Israeli military zones Gaza’s roughly 2 million Palestinians are almost completely reliant on international aid because nearly all food production capabilities have been destroyed.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
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The first move for a mistrial from Combs’ legal team occurred at the end of May, after prosecutors asked Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigator Lance Jimenez if fingerprint evidence related to the bombing of Kid Cudi's car had been destroyed.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2025
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Her older brother, a successful economist, and her sister, a government lawyer, have repeatedly warned her that her outspokenness could damage not only her career but theirs.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
Verb
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In 2012, Texas Wesleyan went to the city’s historic and cultural landmarks commission seeking permission to demolish the home for further campus expansion, but were denied.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 June 2025
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Goldschmidt has demolished the NL Central in his career, with a slash line of .291/.388/.527 in almost 550 games played.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
Verb
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However, relatively decent growth fueled by Putin's record military spending has been marred by inflation and a worker shortage impacted by those fleeing the draft and troop losses in Ukraine as experts warn of longer terms problems for the economy.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
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Lynch’s first winter as CEO was marred by long lift lines and employee shortages driven by COVID-19.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
27 May 2025
Verb
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There were missions that felt like a rally racing mini-game, asking me to navigate between timer-extending rings dotting barren desert ruins.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2025
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But Foxx lamented how the producer ruined his legacy after being arrested in Manhattan last September following a grand jury indictment.—
Mekishana Pierre Published,
EW.com,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deface. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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