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 marker has since been vandalized and was taken down to be restored, making the James Baldwin quote at the sign’s base all the more pertinent.

— Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026
Japan has a law to punish vandalizing foreign national flags, mainly those displayed at diplomatic facilities, to avoid international disputes.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026

Definition of vandalize

Verb

But there have been no exact numbers of how many missiles and drones Iran had when the war began or how many have since been used or destroyed.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Severe droughts and searing heat across vast swathes of southern Europe destroyed large parts of the olive oil harvest, culminating in a dizzying price rally that shocked industry veterans and consumers alike.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 17 July 2026

Definition of destroy

Verb

Electrical generation units were damaged in the attack, Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said in a statement.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
The city of La Guaira has borne the brunt of the devastation, though the capital city of Caracas has also seen buildings damaged and evacuated by the hundreds and essential services knocked out.

— Cristina Guevara, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026

Definition of damage

Verb

To prevent a similar war from happening again, Menelaus scarred her face, permanently marring her famous beauty.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
In an address from the White House tonight, the president sought to reveal proof for his baseless assertions of a 2020 vote marred by fraud.

— Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Definition of mar

Verb

Floyd is no longer attracted to his wife, has trouble connecting with his teen-age stepson, and owes tens of thousands in taxes—a set of stressors that are ruining his health.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
That would ruin a good thing, apparently, and Foerster credited Puni for not only playing through a knee injury last fall but overcoming early-career growing pains.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 20 July 2026

Definition of ruin

Verb

Because control can be distributed across multiple platforms, the loss of a single drone does not necessarily cripple the entire formation.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
Moses Okello, a senior researcher with the Institute for Security Studies’ Horn of Africa program, told CNN the attacks appear designed to cripple the city’s ability to function rather than simply hit military targets.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 20 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 24 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of deface

verb

noun

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