Synonyms of deface

deface 1 of 2

verb

di-ˈfās 

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

• vandalize
• destroy
• demolish
• ruin
• smash
• violate
• damage
• trash
• desecrate
• break
• wreck
• impair
• harm
• hurt
• mar
• shatter
• spoil
• sack
• sabotage
• tag
• ravage
• raze
• graffiti
• waste
• despoil
• annihilate
• loot
• devastate
• wipe out
• plunder
• pillage
• ransack
• wrack
• scourge
• tear down
• total
• bang up
• maraud
• raven
• depredate
• spoliate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protect
• preserve
• save
• conserve
• build
• salvage
• rebuild

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

• injure
• damage
• mar
• cripple
• hurt
• weaken
• disfigure
• compromise
• spoil
• impair
• destroy
• erode
• harm
• break
• bloody
• ruin
• undermine
• vitiate
• flaw
• blemish
• cross (up)
• shatter
• crab
• deteriorate
• wound
• demolish
• tarnish
• scour
• wear (away)
• endamage
• enfeeble
• wreck
• mutilate
• batter
• blight
• smash
• dent
• maim
• devastate
• wash out
• enervate
• disable
• botch
• raze
• lacerate
• annihilate
• ding
• mangle
• pulverize
• crush
• waste
• torture
• decimate
• gum (up)
• desolate
• wipe out
• queer
• clobber
• torment
• dint
• bash
• scourge
• hamstring
• tear down
• total
• dash
• do in
• lame
• bang up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reconstruct
• repair
• rebuild
• patch
• renovate
• fix
• help
• revamp
• mend
• rehabilitate
• heal
• rectify
• revise
• recondition
• cure
• remedy
• edit
• improve
• enhance
• remodel
• better
• doctor
• enrich
• perfect
• refine
• ameliorate
• meliorate

defacement

2 of 2

noun

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

• vandalism
• vandalization
• destruction
• defacing
• trashing
• wrecking
• desecration
• sabotage
• demolishing
• ruin
• ruination
• demolishment
• ravaging
• looting
• ravage
• desecrating
• plundering
• spoliation
• predation
• depredation
• despoiling
• plunder
• pillaging
• pillage
• marauding
• sacking
• despoilment
• ransacking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protection
• conservation
• preservation
• saving
• salvage

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of deface

Verb

Preservationists, architects and historians warn that painting the 19th century facade would trap moisture, accelerate deterioration and deface one of Washington’s most important historic structures. — Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Continue reading … HOLY GROUND ATTACK — World-famous Catholic shrine defaced and set on fire. — FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026

Noun

Regardless, following the Roonstrasse defacement, a wave of additional antisemitic vandalism spread throughout West Germany and other places, including the United States. — Daniela R. P. Weiner, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026

This can include denial-of-service attacks, in which hackers try to jam a network so legitimate users cannot use it, and website defacements, which can prevent a company from communicating with customers. — ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026