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

Preservationists, architects and historians warn that painting the 19th century facade would trap moisture, accelerate deterioration and deface one of Washington’s most important historic structures. — Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Continue reading … HOLY GROUND ATTACK — World-famous Catholic shrine defaced and set on fire. — FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026

Noun

Regardless, following the Roonstrasse defacement, a wave of additional antisemitic vandalism spread throughout West Germany and other places, including the United States. — Daniela R. P. Weiner, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026 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

Verb

In August, Kuna had at least two incidents of people vandalizing or stealing the license-plate readers, Emily Walker, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, told the Statesman Thursday.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2026
At issue is Hamilton Street, a block-long stretch of broken sidewalks, vacant and vandalized buildings, overgrown lots and what appear to be abandoned cars.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of vandalize

Verb

The attack on Kyiv damaged more than 50 civilian sites, including apartment blocks, post offices, a maternity hospital and a textile plant, Vyhivskyi, the interior minister, said.

— HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
Tests also found that the electrical pulses used for communication did not damage tissue samples.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of damage

Verb

The block that houses Monarch Donuts will soon be demolished as construction starts on a new retail and residential development called the Arcadia Town Center.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
Some are also concerned that the president's proposal for the arch, along with other projects like the ballroom and threats to demolish the Kennedy Center, could significantly alter Washington's landscape.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of demolish

Verb

The episode was marred some by a glitch in the show’s voting system; viewers weren’t able to choose their favorites on the DWTS website and had to vote by text.

— Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
Another interesting option is Yetur Gross-Matos, whose recent stint with the 49ers was marred by a knee issue.

— Matt Barrows, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of mar

Verb

Before the attack, millions of books a year were printed in this space, where there’s now nothing but piles of swollen book stock, ruined after firefighters put out the blaze.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
But Timothy Leary’s version became the dominant idea of psychedelics, and when President Ronald Reagan’s War on Drugs began, psychedelics were vilified as the gateway to ruin.

— Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of ruin

Verb

Then, after becoming Trojans AD in August 2010, he was tasked with moving the athletic department past crippling NCAA sanctions.

— The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Young men and women went overseas, on orders of presidents, to try to cripple and kill the enemy and its enablers in foreign lands.

— New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of cripple

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Style

“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deface. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of deface

verb

noun

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