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
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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
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Recent Examples of deface
Someone had carved the name of a man—one of the house’s former owners—upside down, a superstitious practice of cursing someone by defacing their name.
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Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
Unity of Fields also published photos showing the campus of UMass Amherst defaced with pro-Palestinian graffiti.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 11 Oct. 2024
During the protest, some of the university’s historic sandstone buildings were defaced with graffiti.
—Ryan MacAsero, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024
China, Russia and Iran could deface and take down election websites to feed unfounded concerns that votes are being tampered with.
—Sam Sabin, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deface 
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
Unity of Fields also published photos showing the campus of UMass Amherst defaced with pro-Palestinian graffiti.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 11 Oct. 2024
During the protest, some of the university’s historic sandstone buildings were defaced with graffiti.
—Ryan MacAsero, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024
China, Russia and Iran could deface and take down election websites to feed unfounded concerns that votes are being tampered with.
—Sam Sabin, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deface
Verb
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The University of Michigan on Monday denounced an attack on the home of Jordan Acker, a university regent, in which his house was vandalized and pro-Palestinian messages were spray-painted on his wife’s car.Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2024
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After the grave was vandalized, Shrewsbury resident Louise Coupland launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise £1,000 for the costs of repairing the stone.Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The driver of the pickup truck was not injured, but his passenger, a 19-year-old San Jose man, was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.Jason Green, The Mercury News, 15 Dec. 2024
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Jamie Foxx was injured during an altercation while celebrating his 57th birthday at Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills, according to his representatives.Ashley Hume, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Al Shahabi also asked on Facebook where the recordings of surveillance cameras at regime security branches had gone, why some documents had been destroyed and why human rights groups had not done more to protect records.Raja Razek, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
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Shacks and buildings were left completely destroyed when the cyclone struck the nation hampered by poverty.Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Rain barrel accessories, like tubing, lids, and spigots, can also be damaged by cold weather, while metal rain barrels won’t function once temperatures drop below freezing.Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2024
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Infrastructure has been significantly damaged, with roads, homes, and public facilities rendered uninhabitable in parts of the affected region.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Once, in a stadium since demolished, the Orioles won three world championships; the Baltimore Colts did the same.Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 13 Dec. 2024
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Subsequently demolished and rebuilt by Simo Design and Fischer Construction, the sleek wood and stone structure ultimately sold to Bay-Schuck in late 2019 for $11 million.Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The first talking head in the film is writer and critic Joe Queenan, who speaks simply but movingly of how the Beatles’ music helped dull the pain of an adolescence marred by paternal abuse.Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
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Among the college football games marred by violence last weekend was Michigan’s 13-10 win over Ohio State.George Ramsay, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This increases the risk of electrical shocks, fire, and short circuits, which can ruin your holidays.Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
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Over time, this can take away a company's competitive edge or even ruin its reputation with future talent.Subha Barry, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2023
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Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.Anthony Maluso, Baltimore Sun, 22 Mar. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near deface
Cite this Entry
“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deface. Accessed 19 Dec. 2024.
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