1
as in to vandalize
to deliberately cause the damage or destruction of another's property
the principal vowed to get the punks who defaced the statue in front of the school
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to injure
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
years of wear had defaced the fine engraving on the coins
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in vandalism
deliberate damaging or destroying of another's property
the defacement of the school's property ended up costing hundreds of dollars
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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 deface
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
4 June 2026
At least three campaign signs for Sacramento City Council candidate Jenn Chawla were defaced with racist slurs over the weekend.
—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
18 May 2026
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
31 Jan. 2026
Palombo learned of the complete defacement through private messages on his social media channels.
—
Gabriele Regalbuto,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
Verb
The cemetery, created in 1859, was abandoned and defaced before becoming the property of the county in 1967.
—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
4 June 2026
At least three campaign signs for Sacramento City Council candidate Jenn Chawla were defaced with racist slurs over the weekend.
—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
The defacements concerned city officials enough that Los Angeles Metro buses with Melania ads have been routed from some neighborhoods into other, presumably Melania-friendlier zones.
—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
31 Jan. 2026
Palombo learned of the complete defacement through private messages on his social media channels.
—
Gabriele Regalbuto,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deface
Verb
-
The protests came after months of unrest that have drawn international criticism as foreigners have been driven from their homes and seen their businesses and property vandalized.
-
San Francisco police said the Friday evening incident involved two people vandalizing property with spray paint in the area of Market Street and Eighth Street toward the end of the Trans March.
Verb
-
The Jackson County charges came after police accused Sanchez-Munoz in a series of shootings in Kansas City that left one man, Jeremy Keenan, dead and four others injured on June 16.
-
French and Ukrainian media reported that a Ukrainian magnate and his family were those injured.
Verb
-
The most common type of dementia, which destroys memory and cognitive function, was responsible for 116,022 deaths in 2024, NCHS data shows.
-
That book is a revenge fantasy about the former art school professor who seduced her, discarded her and destroyed her confidence as a painter.
Verb
-
Some of these storms could be severe and deliver damaging wind gusts, but any thunderstorm will contain lightning — a major danger for any outdoor activities, especially for anyone trying to escape the heat in or on the water.
-
Diseases that damage the kidneys and impair their ability to filter blood were blamed for 55,081 deaths in 2024.
Verb
-
The East Wing of the White House was demolished suddenly in October 2025, and construction at the site, which will be the location of a new 22,000-square-foot ballroom, has continued through mid-2026.
-
Just months later, in October, the East Wing had been demolished without notice to make way for the new ballroom.
Verb
-
The World Cup group stage was marred for fans whose experiences mirrored Ramroop’s, leading FIFA and third-party platforms like StubHub to point fingers at each other amid the fallout.
-
His previous loan at Girona was marred by injuries, impacting his World Cup aspirations.
Verb
-
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
-
After all, plenty of cocktail enthusiasts already complain about mosquitoes ruining a summer evening.
Verb
-
Sanctions on remittance and food delivery apps could further cripple the island nation, María José Espinosa, executive director of the Center for Engagement and Advocacy in the Americas, said.
-
As a result, teams across the league have become more wary about handing out big-money, long-term deals in free agency, as one mistake has the potential to cripple a franchise.
Cite this Entry
“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deface. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
