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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deface
Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026
No one in Florida had been charged with criminal mischief for defacing a traffic control device until the August arrests.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Gabriele Regalbuto, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
After a while, sticky notes appear, written by someone else who’s not exactly pleased about the doodler’s defacement of the only astronomy reference work in the school library.
—Caroline Carlson, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
Verb
In Australia, synagogues were firebombed, cars torched and Jewish community buildings defaced – the types of attacks recently seen in the United Kingdom that have prompted calls for a crackdown on antisemitism.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026
No one in Florida had been charged with criminal mischief for defacing a traffic control device until the August arrests.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
Palombo learned of the complete defacement through private messages on his social media channels.
—Gabriele Regalbuto, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
After a while, sticky notes appear, written by someone else who’s not exactly pleased about the doodler’s defacement of the only astronomy reference work in the school library.
—Caroline Carlson, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deface
Verb
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Oak Park officials issued a statement condemning antisemitism on Thursday after a home was vandalized with an antisemitic message.—
Cam'ron Hardy,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
-
PennDOT message boards and cameras for the Parkway East are out of service after someone vandalized fiber optic cables.—
Patrick Damp,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Police did not reveal the identities of the six on board or the condition of those injured.—
Diego Mendoza,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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Two teachers were injured after an assault involving a student during dismissal at a Harford County elementary school on Tuesday.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
14 June 2026
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Terminix utilizes the advanced Sentricon baiting system alongside traditional liquid barriers to destroy subterranean colonies entirely.—
Nick Perry,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Even some supporters called that a mistake that damaged his credibility.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
-
Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
14 June 2026
Verb
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After considerable debate, the city demolished the building in March 2026.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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The committee’s meetings were sometimes contentious, with one of the toughest debates being whether the nightclub would be demolished or preserved in part.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Yet even before the competition opened with Mexico facing South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca, it has been marred by a number of controversies that threaten to overshadow the soccer and cloud the tournament’s legacy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
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Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street announced Tuesday that the 2026 Downtown Days festival will be its last, citing safety concerns after fights, assaults and property damage marred Saturday evening’s event.—
Ian Cummings,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The Spurs rose up and ruined that party, winning their only game of the series.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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Historically, barrels of Madeira spent months crossing tropical oceans aboard ships, and merchants realized that the heat actually improved the wine rather than ruining it.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The fall broke both his legs, crippling him.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
14 June 2026
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Candidates whose public image depends on favorable coverage can be crippled by bad headlines.—
Matthew Shelter,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deface. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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