Synonyms of vandalization

vandalization 1 of 2

noun

as in vandalism

deliberate damaging or destroying of another's property

colorizing that classic black-and-white film would be an unforgivable act of cinematic vandalization

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vandalism
• destruction
• defacement
• wrecking
• defacing
• desecration
• trashing
• sabotage
• ruin
• ruination
• demolishment
• ravaging
• looting
• ravage
• demolishing
• plundering
• desecrating
• predation
• depredation
• plunder
• pillage
• spoliation
• pillaging
• marauding
• despoiling
• despoilment
• sacking
• ransacking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protection
• conservation
• preservation
• saving
• salvage

vandalize

2 of 2

verb

ˈvan-də-ˌlīz 

as in to destroy

to deliberately cause the damage or destruction of another's property

he decided to vandalize the store because the owner had kicked him out

Synonyms & Similar Words

• destroy
• deface
• demolish
• smash
• ruin
• violate
• damage
• trash
• desecrate
• break
• wreck
• hurt
• harm
• sabotage
• impair
• shatter
• spoil
• sack
• raze
• loot
• graffiti
• tag
• ravage
• mar
• waste
• annihilate
• despoil
• ransack
• wipe out
• devastate
• plunder
• pillage
• tear down
• wrack
• total
• scourge
• bang up
• maraud
• raven
• depredate
• spoliate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protect
• preserve
• save
• conserve
• build
• salvage
• rebuild

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of vandalization

Noun

Riverside has both a community center named for Chavez and a bronze statue — often the target of vandalization — on the Main Street pedestrian mall in the city’s downtown. — Ryan Carter, Daily News, 19 Mar. 2026

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

The rental property, which Murphy and his unnamed 22-year-old girlfriend had allegedly been living in for three months, had also been vandalized. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Some 250 trees were planted along Shepard Road in 2024, only for 60 of them to be uprooted or vandalized a month later, followed by another 32 trees a year after that. — Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 July 2026