Synonyms

disfigure

American

[dis-fig-yer, dis-fig-er] / dɪsˈfɪg yər, dɪsˈfɪg ər /

verb (used with object)

disfigured, disfiguring

to mar the appearance or beauty of; deform; deface.

Our old towns are increasingly disfigured by tasteless new buildings.

Synonyms:

blemish, spoil

Antonyms:

beautify
to mar the effect or excellence of.

His reputation was disfigured by instances of political favoritism.

disfigure British

/ dɪsˈfɪɡə /

verb

to spoil the appearance or shape of; deface
to mar the effect or quality of

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See mar.

Other Word Forms

disfigurer noun
undisfigured adjective

Etymology

Origin of disfigure

1325–75; Middle English disfiguren < Anglo-French, Old French desfigurer, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + -figurer, verbal derivative of figure figure

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.

And he grew that beard—initially to hide disfiguring dental surgery.

From The Wall Street Journal

A droll moment of introspection is offered when Gordon disfigures his face with tape.

From Los Angeles Times

Many of the victims were too disfigured to be identified, and 69 people had been labelled in Persian as John or Jane Doe, suggesting their identity was unknown when the photo was taken.

From BBC

They worry about being disfigured or disabled; they fear becoming pariahs.

From The Wall Street Journal

Parts of Gaza City are disfigured beyond recognition.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023