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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Recent Examples of vandalizing
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
British authorities have had their eyes on the group since 2020, but its June 2025 action – when activists broke into Britain’s largest airbase, RAF Brize Norton, vandalizing two Airbus Voyager refueling planes – led to its proscription.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
In the finale, Laura crashes Daniel and Cherry’s engagement party, and Cherry is arrested for vandalizing Laura’s gallery.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Wilson, a Boise Black Lives Matter organizer and former Boise State University adjunct professor, previously made headlines in 2021 when he was arrested for vandalizing a statue of Abraham Lincoln in Julia Davis Park.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025
Image Since then, mobs have arrived in neighborhoods where Hindus live, vandalizing temples and targeting homes.
—Saif Hasnat, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Some of the kids quickly get up to no good, vandalizing the graves of the Duttons.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024
In Massachusetts, there is a law explicitly stating the punishment for vandalizing a carton of milk, which is a fine of $10.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 21 Nov. 2024
Dowell, 24, was previously arrested in January 2023 and pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and vandalizing a historic monument.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 19 Nov. 2024
John Toher, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
British authorities have had their eyes on the group since 2020, but its June 2025 action – when activists broke into Britain’s largest airbase, RAF Brize Norton, vandalizing two Airbus Voyager refueling planes – led to its proscription.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
In the finale, Laura crashes Daniel and Cherry’s engagement party, and Cherry is arrested for vandalizing Laura’s gallery.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Wilson, a Boise Black Lives Matter organizer and former Boise State University adjunct professor, previously made headlines in 2021 when he was arrested for vandalizing a statue of Abraham Lincoln in Julia Davis Park.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025
Image Since then, mobs have arrived in neighborhoods where Hindus live, vandalizing temples and targeting homes.
—Saif Hasnat, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Some of the kids quickly get up to no good, vandalizing the graves of the Duttons.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024
In Massachusetts, there is a law explicitly stating the punishment for vandalizing a carton of milk, which is a fine of $10.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 21 Nov. 2024
Dowell, 24, was previously arrested in January 2023 and pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and vandalizing a historic monument.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 19 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vandalizing
Verb
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The former screen siren was fined nearly $25,000 in 2008 after being convicted of provoking discrimination and racial hatred for writing that Muslims are destroying her country.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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Block destruction is one of Minter’s defensive pillars, and the Chargers have not been destroying blocks on some of these explosive runs.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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Barner holds his arms parallel to the ground and swings them side to side while slowly stomping forward like Godzilla demolishing a city.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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Often, demolishing a former shopping mall can be easier for builders who might then decide to build luxury housing that does not address the current affordability crisis.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Balmer reportedly scaled a wall outside the mansion in Harrisburg before smashing windows, throwing homemade incendiary devices and eventually entering himself.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
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The Vultee aircraft completed a flight from Los Angeles to New York in 11 hours and 34 minutes and 16 seconds, smashing the existing record of 12 hours for that distance.—
Stuart Dyos,
Nashville Tennessean,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Packages of flying tortillas thrown at the wrong time, or pocket knives, would only hurt a reputation that Texas Tech has worked doggedly to change and show that the Red Raiders are at home on a national stage, and not the crazy drunk uncle ruining a holiday.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Oct. 2025
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Since 2021, Spotify has offered an alternative app for kids to listen to music without ruining their parents recommendations.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Their actual meeting takes up less time than Emily spends trashing Tamra for meeting with Katie.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
10 Oct. 2025
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And that’s the ultimate status symbol — having a $15,000 bag and then trashing it.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Kansas City Chiefs will get a massive reinforcement on Sunday, with wide receiver Rashee Rice ready to play his first game of the year after serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.—
Jon Conahan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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The investigation revealed Donald had been accused of assault Jacob on at least two other occasions earlier this year, violating a protective order against him on both occasions.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When exposure occurs through food or drinking water, cesium-137 can accumulate in the body and increase the risk of cancer due to its DNA-damaging properties.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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While more plants may seem beneficial, TNC points out that the tree and shrub takeover is damaging to the natural grassland ecosystem present in the preserve.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vandalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vandalizing. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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