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 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, 20 Sep. 2026 That would let prosecutors ask a grand jury to charge Hearn again if new evidence were discovered implicating him in vandalizing the pool. — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026 However, charges were dropped against several people accused of vandalizing the pool. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 An Ohio man accused of vandalizing Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati home earlier this year pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday, officials said. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 News outlets have reported a growing number of allegations of misuse by police in other parts of the country, as well as instances of people vandalizing the cameras — something also happening here. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2026 Surveillance video appears to show the man vandalizing the statue and then entering the SEPTA 5th Street station through the southeast stairs. — Laura Fay, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 Trump blamed the sealant issues on vandalism without providing evidence, and felony charges were brought against a former Olympic canoeist, David Hearn, after he was accused of vandalizing the pool. — Matthew Daly, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 The clash followed Pirro’s decision to drop a felony case accusing a former Olympic canoeist of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, according to a source. — Daniela Suarez, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vandalizing

Verb

It was defined in a United Nations Convention, adopted in the wake of the Holocaust, as acts that are committed with the intention of destroying — in whole or in part — a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.

— David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Can the product be restored without destroying what still works?

— Christopher Kiggins, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of destroying

Verb

Over the weekend, ShinyHunters boasted about hijacking and defacing CLOP’s site on the dark web with an image of a Pokémon.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of defacing

Verb

This is not the first time a coach in LAUSD has gotten into trouble trying to improve a facility, with the district issuing disciplinary action and demolishing the improvement because it was not authorized.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
On Thursday, the judge ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days' notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including demolishing it.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of demolishing

Verb

One panel was falling, then smashing on the path, lead relinquishing its long grip on the glass.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
The helicopter crashed in a driveway between two warehouses, smashing into a pair of truck cargo containers while the news crew tried grabbing video footage of a serious collision involving a Metro bus that also left two people dead.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of smashing

Verb

Seaver also allegedly threatened to start a podcast dedicated to ruining Parton’s image unless he was paid.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 28 Sep. 2026
Even if your appliance feels cool to the touch, warm air rises and can make the top slightly warmer, slowly cooking the wine and ruining the flavor.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of ruining

Verb

Instead, seal them in a dark plastic bag and bake them in direct sun for a few weeks to kill all seeds and roots before trashing them, or send them to a commercial or municipal composting facility.

— Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026
Friends told her that in the dining hall, where copies of the Review are often scattered like birdseed, some students were trashing the column.

— Jesse Dougherty, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of trashing

Verb

Edwards was arrested on suspicion of violating his parole and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Eventually, all charges were dropped days before trial, with Perry scolding prosecutors for violating the inherent trust placed in the office.

— Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of violating

Verb

David Hearn, the former Olympics canoeist accused of damaging Washington's Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool before prosecutors dropped the case, cannot be recharged, a judge has ruled.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, on the charging case, iFixit struggled to access its components without damaging the external plastic.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 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 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of vandalizing

verb

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