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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deface
Since its foundation in 2020, Palestine Action has primarily organised direct-action protests against weapons manufacturers: defacing buildings, breaking windows and occupying factories.
—
Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2025
The Boston Police Department is investigating vandalism that occurred at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End, where a statue of the Virgin Mary was defaced with graffiti.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
Richard Robertson, director of research and advocacy at B’nai Brith Canada, noted that just a week earlier a synagogue in Victoria, British Columbia, had been defaced with antisemitic threats, underscoring that Jew-hatred has become a nationwide problem.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Lincoln County Schools took a smiliar position back in 2021 when racial slurs defaced school property.
—Evan Moore
august 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2025
The Boston Police Department is investigating vandalism that occurred at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End, where a statue of the Virgin Mary was defaced with graffiti.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
Richard Robertson, director of research and advocacy at B’nai Brith Canada, noted that just a week earlier a synagogue in Victoria, British Columbia, had been defaced with antisemitic threats, underscoring that Jew-hatred has become a nationwide problem.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Lincoln County Schools took a smiliar position back in 2021 when racial slurs defaced school property.
—Evan Moore
august 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deface
Verb
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The mural has been vandalized before, and already the Native man’s genitals were barely visible because someone had previously tried to obscure the paint.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, several masked people wearing dark clothing breached the fences and vandalized the building, according to officials and court documents.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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One of two firefighters injured in a house fire in Fort Worth’s Historic Southside on Wednesday has been released from the hospital, while the other is recovering in the burn unit at Parkland Hospital, officials said.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
-
McCaffrey missed the first eight games of the season, then injured his knee in a Week 13 game in Buffalo, ending his season.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Acosta allowed it, and IMG destroyed them.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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Later, Howard calls Matt and agrees to cut the sequence but also threatens to destroy him.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Washing a couch or sofa, professional carpet and upholstery cleaner Ben Brazell says, is more precarious than carpet cleaning because the upholstery is often a lot more expensive and much easier to damage.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
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Private homes, farm buildings and power lines were damaged, Gusev said.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
7 Sep. 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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If the city officially adds the structures to the dangerous buildings list, an inspector will issue orders to demolish them or repair them.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Boy Meets World — Savage’s comedy legacy has been marred by multiple misconduct allegations over the years.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Holes marred the walls in the kitchen under the dish machine, dry storage and dish storage rooms.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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To avoid the busiest times, try to visit the wall and the main church ruins early in the morning or later in the afternoon when most tour groups have moved on.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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Helene cost him less than 10 percent of that collection, thousands of seeds ruined when his freezers lost power and frost melted.—
Lila Hempel-Edgers,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Brody is looking at the clock and urging action to cripple the enemy’s ability to do anything else.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
2 Sep. 2025
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From ransomware attacks that can cripple supply chains to sophisticated nation-state campaigns targeting critical infrastructure, the threats facing companies today are pervasive, costly, and constantly evolving.—
Chuck Brooks,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deface. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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