deface

1 of 2

verb

de·​face di-ˈfās How to pronounce deface (audio)
dē-
defaced; defacing; defaces
Synonyms of defacenext

transitive verb

1
: to mar the appearance of : injure by effacing significant details
deface an inscription
2
: impair
3
obsolete : destroy
defacement
di-ˈfās-mənt How to pronounce deface (audio)
dē-
noun
defacer noun

defacement

2 of 2

noun

de·​face·​ment -smənt How to pronounce defacement (audio)
plural -s
: the act of defacing or state of being defaced : injury to surface or outward appearance

Synonyms of deface

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Verb

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Examples of deface in a Sentence

Verb The building was defaced with graffiti. He was fined for defacing public property.
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Verb
That was the last time the sign was defaced. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 12 June 2026 Following the silent protest, MLB warned players not to deface their uniforms. — David K. Li, NBC news, 23 June 2026 These public acts were meant not only to deface property, but to send a message of intimidation. — Laurence Milstein, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026 No patriots so defaced America as those who, in the name of Americanism, launched a witch hunt that became a byword around the world. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for deface

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deface was in the 14th century

Rhymes for deface

See All Rhymes for deface

Browse Nearby Words

def
deface
defacement
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deface. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

deface

verb
de·​face di-ˈfās How to pronounce deface (audio)
: to destroy or damage the face or surface of
defacement
-ˈfās-mənt How to pronounce deface (audio)
noun
defacer noun

Legal Definition

deface

transitive verb
de·​face di-ˈfās How to pronounce deface (audio)
defaced; defacing
: to destroy or mar the face or surface of
defacement noun
defacer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on deface

Nglish: Translation of deface for Spanish Speakers

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