efface

American  

[ih-feys] / ɪˈfeɪs /

verb (used with object)

effaced, effacing

1. to wipe out; do away with; expunge.

   to efface one's unhappy memories.

2. to rub out, erase, or obliterate (outlines, traces, inscriptions, etc.).

3. to make (oneself ) inconspicuous; withdraw (oneself ) modestly or shyly.

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efface British  

/ ɪˈfeɪs /

verb

1. to obliterate or make dim

   to efface a memory

2. to make (oneself) inconspicuous or humble through modesty, cowardice, or obsequiousness

3. to rub out (a line, drawing, etc); erase

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Other Word Forms

• effaceable adjective
• effacement noun
• effacer noun
• uneffaceable adjective
• uneffaced adjective

Etymology

Origin of efface

From the Middle French word effacer, dating back to 1480–90; ef-, face

Example Sentences

"You may have the power to bring down the government. But you cannot efface reality," he said.

From BBC • Sep. 8, 2025

It’s exceedingly unlikely that Leo had anything to do with her murder, but the show doesn’t efface her tragedy, even as it reckons with the gravity of Leo’s.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 2025

Yet, though he could efface his own ego when necessary, he never dodged responsibility.

From Washington Post • Sep. 18, 2020

Even his too-muchness, though, had its source in a rich and vivid queer identity he alternately skirted, trumpeted and refuted but could never successfully efface.

From New York Times • May 11, 2020

There was nothing more for him but to efface himself, to destroy the unsuccessful structure of his life, to throw it away, mocked at by the gods.

From "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse