Defacement — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /di-ˈfās/ de·face

Meaning & Definition of Defacement

Defacement (verb)

  1. to mar the appearance of, injure by effacing significant details
  2. impair
  3. destroy

Defacement (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. deliberate damaging or destroying of another's property

    "the defacement of the school's property ended up costing hundreds of dollars"

    similar: defacing, trashing, vandalism, vandalization
    related: demolishing, demolishment, desecrating, desecration, destruction, ravage, ravaging, ruin, ruination, wrecking, sabotage, depredation, despoiling, despoilment, looting, marauding, pillage, pillaging, plunder, plundering, predation, ransacking, sacking, spoliation
    near: conservation, preservation, protection, salvage, saving

Related Entry: Deface (verb)

Deface is a different word from Defacement. The synonyms below are for deface, not for defacement.

  1. 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"

    similar: trash, vandalize
    related: desecrate, violate, graffiti, tag, bang up, break, damage, harm, hurt, impair, mar, shatter, spoil, annihilate, demolish, destroy, devastate, ravage, raven, raze, ruin, scourge, smash, tear down, total, waste, wipe out, wrack, wreck, sabotage, depredate, despoil, loot, maraud, pillage, plunder, ransack, sack, spoliate
    near: conserve, preserve, protect, save, salvage, build, rebuild

  2. to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of

    "years of wear had defaced the fine engraving on the coins"

    similar: blemish, bloody, break, compromise, crab, cripple, cross (up), damage, disfigure, endamage, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, spoil, vitiate
    related: deteriorate, enervate, enfeeble, undermine, weaken, erode, scour, wash out, wear (away), blight, tarnish, dent, ding, dint, botch, gum (up), queer, lacerate, wound, disable, hamstring, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, torment, torture, annihilate, bang up, bash, batter, clobber, crush, dash, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, do in, pulverize, raze, ruin, scourge, shatter, smash, tear down, total, waste, wipe out, wreck
    opposite: doctor, fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair, revamp
    near: cure, heal, help, rectify, rehabilitate, remedy, edit, remodel, revise, ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Defacement

The most common words with a similar meaning to Defacement:

defacing, trashing, vandalism, vandalization

Related Words for Defacement

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

Near Antonyms of Defacement

conservation, preservation, protection, salvage, saving

Word Forms of Defacement

Inflections: defaced, defacing, defaces

Derived words: defacement (noun), defacer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Defacement

Middle English, from Anglo-French *desfacer, *deffacer, from des- de- + face front, face

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Defacement

What does "Defacement" mean?

"Defacement" means to mar the appearance of, injure by effacing significant details. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to mar the appearance of, injure by effacing significant details.

What is another word for "Defacement"?

Other words for "Defacement" include defacing, trashing, vandalism and vandalization. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Defacement" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Defacement"?

There are 28 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Defacement". Common alternatives include defacing, trashing, vandalism and vandalization.

How do you use "Defacement" in a sentence?

Examples of "Defacement" in a sentence: "the defacement of the school's property ended up costing hundreds of dollars".

Is "Defacement" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Defacement" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Defacement"?

"Defacement" is pronounced /di-ˈfās/ and divided into syllables as de·face.

What is the origin of the word "Defacement"?

"Defacement" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French *desfacer, *deffacer, from des- de- + face front, face. First known use: 14th century.

What is another word for "Defacement" meaning "deliberate damaging or destroying of another's property"?

When "Defacement" (noun) means deliberate damaging or destroying of another's property, synonyms include defacing, trashing, vandalism and vandalization.