deface
verb (used with object)
to mar the surface or appearance of; disfigure.
defacement
-
a word derived from
deface.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The 600-foot-long platforms are separated from the walls, keeping them an arm’s length from defacement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
If pressed, some argue the indignation over the defacement itself betrays how little our culture values the planet when compared to inanimate works of canvas and pigment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2024
The ruling Georgian Dream party condemned the defacement of the icon but has not commented on the national debate about the role of Stalin.
From BBC ● Jan. 18, 2024
The Israeli government expressed alarm over the defacement, which officials also attributed to Jewish iconoclasm in obedience to early prohibitions against idolatry.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 6, 2023
Does not Victor Hugo’s tragedy of Lucrece Borgia turn on the defacement of a doorplate?
From Reviews by Oscar Wilde
