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
The display outside Kahn’s home follows a common theme of activists using red paint to protest the war by vandalizing buildings that host political figures, newspapers and other establishments.
—
Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 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
Edgewood police are seeking information leading to the arrest of those responsible for vandalizing restrooms at President's Park.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2024
Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 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
Edgewood police are seeking information leading to the arrest of those responsible for vandalizing restrooms at President's Park.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vandalizing
Verb
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The two initial quakes flattened villages in both provinces, destroying more than 6,700 homes, and rescue workers pulled bodies from the rubble on Thursday.—
Mohammad Yunus Yawar,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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As Greengrass was editing the picture, wildfires tore through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena in Southern California, killing residents and destroying homes.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Stringer/Sputnik via AP What To Know Broadly desecration of a flag refers to any action that damages or disrespects it—such as burning it, urinating or defecating on it, defacing it, stepping on it, damaging it with stones or bullets, cutting or ripping it and many others.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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About 90% of the former Spring Hill Mall is gone and work demolishing the final anchor store set to begin in the next couple of weeks, officials said.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
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After filing the first lawsuit, attorney Katie Steele of Varghese Summersett also sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the owners from removing or destroying tenants’ property from the units, or demolishing the building, and to preserve critical evidence in the case.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Police, a renowned English rock band, formed in 1977, looping together Sting, Copeland and Summers for an act that rode the new wave to smashing success through the late '70s and early '80s.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Even the squirles are smashing their bread extra hard.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Lewis Hamilton lost control of his Ferrari and crashed out of the Dutch Grand Prix, ruining a chance to nab a good haul of points.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
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Thanks, man, for ruining an almost-letter-perfect red-carpet walk.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Separately, but related, Baldoni’s former publicist Stephanie Jones is suing Baldoni, Nathan and publicist Jennifer Abel for trashing her reputation.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
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On the other hand, Chinese President Xi Jinping was reportedly furious when the sale took place, with state media trashing the deal and the country’s antitrust regulator opening a probe into the transaction.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Rice was unavailable for Friday’s game, serving the first game of his six-game league suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
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Bubba is named in the suit, accused of helping to develop the film using Hulk’s trademarks without permission, and of violating a settlement agreement.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Avoid using excessive water to prevent damaging the floors.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
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Large hail, damaging wind, and continuous cloud to ground lightning are occurring with this storm.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vandalizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vandalizing. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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