as in vandalism
deliberate damaging or destroying of another's property
the neo-Nazis' defacing of the synagogue was condemned by the entire community
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in vandalizing
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in marring
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defacing
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
The lyrics have the same anesthetized ennui as in emo rap and the new wave of online rock, but the beats are menacingly new and dead-set on defacing your consciousness.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, the people defacing Friend’s advertisements are expressing a much larger, inchoate rage at the broader AI industry, not just these plastic pendants that practically nobody owns.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 6 Oct. 2025
If a student or college employee is found defacing or otherwise vandalizing the commemoration, the bill requires the institution to expel or fire them.
—John Toher, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
In 2010, a man was sentenced to 15 months in prison and fined $10,000 for intentionally defacing carvings at Lake Mead, according to the city.
—Hannah Dreyfus, AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
The investigation into the racist defacing of the black professors’ portraits at Harvard Law School in 2015 continues into an eleventh year with no resolution and no suspects.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
Verb
Nunez-Romano was also charged with possessing a firearm without a firearm identification card and defacing the serial number of a firearm.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
The lyrics have the same anesthetized ennui as in emo rap and the new wave of online rock, but the beats are menacingly new and dead-set on defacing your consciousness.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, the people defacing Friend’s advertisements are expressing a much larger, inchoate rage at the broader AI industry, not just these plastic pendants that practically nobody owns.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 6 Oct. 2025
If a student or college employee is found defacing or otherwise vandalizing the commemoration, the bill requires the institution to expel or fire them.
—John Toher, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
In 2010, a man was sentenced to 15 months in prison and fined $10,000 for intentionally defacing carvings at Lake Mead, according to the city.
—Hannah Dreyfus, AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defacing
Noun
-
Since the Westminster Mall’s more than 40 interior shops closed in late October, the Westminster Police Department has received more than 400 calls about trespassing, vandalism and other illicit activity, with 54 people being arrested on the property now in a holding pattern awaiting redevelopment.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Wednesday morning, SacRT alerted riders that a bus bridge was in place along the Gold Line between Sunrise and Historic Folsom due to vandalism.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Man accused of vandalizing Vance's home ID'd as criminal history is revealed.—
,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Saturday to talk to the man about allegedly vandalizing cars, Irvine police spokesman Kyle Oldoerp said.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Including playoffs, Mayfield turned the ball over more than anyone else from 2023 through 2024, marring an otherwise fantastic two seasons in Tampa Bay.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
An optional front rack on both models adds instant utility without marring the retro-fantastic looks.—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Police said officers from the 116th Precinct had been alerted to the vandalization in the neighborhood and found 11 different police vehicles, both marked and unmarked, with damage.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
13 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
By the 1960s, gas flares and untreated waste spillage were destroying their forests.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
-
And there is a risk of the parasites becoming dormant for years before reactivating and destroying a new cornea.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One person was taken into custody after a fire ripped through a synagogue in Mississippi, heavily damaging the historic house of worship in what authorities say was an act of arson.—
Charlotte Kramon,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Freezing foods quickly helps preserve texture by preventing large ice crystals from damaging delicate cell walls.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Taking office as a result of the most corrupt Election ever seen in the United States, Biden oversaw a series of unprecedented disasters that brought our Nation to the brink of destruction.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Tony Blain, who resigned from his council seat last fall, is also accused of destruction of public documents and misdemeanor petty theft, according to the criminal complaint filed in October.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The move came after the Office of County Administration released December cost estimates for demolishing the building and renovating it.—
John Lomax V,
Houston Chronicle,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Fully reopening Leetsdale Drive is contingent on demolishing parts of the charred apartment complex that are still standing, Murphy said.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defacing. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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