defaced; defacing; defaces
1
: to mar the appearance of : injure by effacing significant details
deface an inscription
2
: impair
3
obsolete
: destroy
defacer
noun
Examples of deface in a Sentence
The building was defaced with graffiti.
He was fined for defacing public property.
Recent Examples on the Web
Vandalism against Tesla vehicles and showrooms is on the rise, with dealerships in multiple countries being defaced with graffiti condemning Musk.
—
Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
Trump upon taking office pardoned people convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection, many of whom had pleaded guilty or been convicted or defacing or damaging the Capitol, which itself is a National Historic Landmark and contains multiple statues and other displays.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
In May, for example, a Brooklyn man was charged with attempting to run down a group of Orthodox Jews with his car; only two weeks later, someone defaced the façade of Park Avenue Synagogue on East 87th Street with pro-Palestinian graffiti.
—Larry Luxner, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2025
The police interaction took place one day after the doors to City Hall and a statue of the late Mayor Richard Gordon Hatcher were defaced with white spray paint.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
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Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
Trump upon taking office pardoned people convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection, many of whom had pleaded guilty or been convicted or defacing or damaging the Capitol, which itself is a National Historic Landmark and contains multiple statues and other displays.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
In May, for example, a Brooklyn man was charged with attempting to run down a group of Orthodox Jews with his car; only two weeks later, someone defaced the façade of Park Avenue Synagogue on East 87th Street with pro-Palestinian graffiti.
—Larry Luxner, Sun Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2025
The police interaction took place one day after the doors to City Hall and a statue of the late Mayor Richard Gordon Hatcher were defaced with white spray paint.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
Cite this Entry
“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deface. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
deface
transitive verb
de·face
di-ˈfās 
defaced; defacing
: to destroy or mar the face or surface of
defacement
noun
defacer
noun
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