VANDALIZING Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

vandalizing

verb

present participle of vandalize

as in destroying

to deliberately cause the damage or destruction of another's property he decided to vandalize the store because the owner had kicked him out

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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 vandalizing The investigation began last Monday, July 20, when the Irvine Police Department asked for help from the public in locating the suspect who was seen vandalizing several Teslas in a parking garage at Michelson Drive and Carlson Avenue. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 30 July 2026 But, rather than vandalizing the corporate website, or holding valuable data for ransom—actions typical of human hackers—the adversary began ransacking the company’s servers in search of an answer key for a list of test questions. — Stephen Witt, New Yorker, 30 July 2026 The Irvine Police Department has arrested a man suspected of vandalizing 13 Teslas with spray paint this month. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 Japan has a law to punish vandalizing foreign national flags, mainly those displayed at diplomatic facilities, to avoid international disputes. — ABC News, 17 July 2026 Others have resorted to covering the cameras with trash bags or vandalizing them. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 9 July 2026 It is known for organizing marches, distributing propaganda, and vandalizing public spaces. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 6 July 2026 Cops are looking for a third suspect — a young man wearing a Knicks jersey — for vandalizing the taxi. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026 Elder’s sculpture was sitting outside of Bee Hive KC over Memorial Day Weekend when a man who was visibly angry allegedly began vandalizing the honeybee, according to Elder. — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vandalizing

Verb

Keeping your lawn and garden well-maintained can also help reduce grasshopper populations by destroying their breeding habitat.

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 21 July 2026
But the Pentagon’s youthful set of avid desk-warriors forget that big hurricanes and regional weather events regularly disrupt waterfront facilities on the Gulf and East coasts, destroying worker housing and permanently peeling away shipbuilders.

— Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of destroying

Verb

Trump, in one of his Truth Social posts, cited laws against defacing monuments as grounds for imprisoning anyone harming the pool.

— Nathan Ellgren, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026
Two men from Germany were arrested after being accused of defacing a pride bench in Miami Beach with antisemitic symbols on Monday.

— Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 19 May 2026

Definition of defacing

Verb

Western Newspaper Union Building Plans filed with the city show that the project would include demolishing and replacing an existing building on the site.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026
Concerns over demolishing the Excelsior Club The decision to demolish has sparked tension with local preservationists and historians.

— Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2026

Definition of demolishing

Verb

Morton kosher salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring often and smashing fruit with a wooden spoon or heatproof rubber spatula, until plums are broken up and mixture thickens to a jammy consistency, 10–15 minutes.

— Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Aug. 2026
Beyond Medic's smashing victory in the main event, a few fighters made significant statements.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of smashing

Verb

Shop additional Ilia beauty products below, and don’t fret about the heat ruining your glam.

— Jennifer Chan, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
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

Definition of ruining

Verb

Charges have been dropped against Bailey Zimmerman, the country singer who was accused of trashing his hotel room at the Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in May.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026
Zelensky formally responded on Saturday in a decidedly undiplomatic post on X, subtly trashing the Polish government for revoking his award while not doing so with other historical awardees that many would object to.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 20 June 2026

Definition of trashing

Verb

Rezaei accused Washington of violating the memorandum of understanding and launching attacks without first referring the issue to the dispute resolution committee.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
The genocide case is before the International Court of Justice, where South Africa has accused Israel of violating the Genocide Convention.

— Arielle Kaden, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of violating

Verb

Reinforcements dispatched to the scene were ambushed en route, damaging an armored personnel carrier before officers fought back, according to the statement.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
But what if there was another way to block Flock cameras that didn’t involve damaging public property?

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 30 July 2026

Definition of damaging

Browse Nearby Words

vandalizes

vandalizing

vandals

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“Vandalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vandalizing. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of vandalizing

verb

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