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Synonyms

faceless

American  
[feys-lis] / ˈfeɪs lɪs /

adjective

  1. without a face.

    a faceless apparition.

  2. lacking personal distinction or identity.

    a faceless mob.

  3. unidentified or unidentifiable; concealing one's identity.

    a faceless kidnapper.


faceless British  
/ ˈfeɪslɪs /

adjective

  1. without a face

  2. without identity; anonymous

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of faceless

First recorded in 1560–70; face + -less

Explanation

Use the adjective faceless to mean impersonal or anonymous. The corrupt owner of a factory sees his employees as faceless worker bees. The enormous audience in a concert arena appears faceless to the rock band on stage. You also might think of the people who make the laws that affect you every day as nothing but faceless bureaucrats. When there's nothing distinct about a person or group, something that makes them stand out as a unique individual, they're faceless. It's also a good way to describe anything lacking character or interest, like a faceless row of identical suburban houses.

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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.

See Examples For:

Through a series of acrylic paintings, Gardner explores intimate connections between parents and children, partners and siblings, inviting viewers to identify themselves within his signature faceless figures.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 8, 2026

This idea, that we get to have privacy expectations even in information we’ve shared with faceless corporations, is the biggest idea in Chatrie.

From Slate Jul. 1, 2026

They said the ruling was delivered by a "faceless court" and that defence lawyers had been unable to cross-examine eyewitnesses properly, who testified via video link.

From BBC Jun. 23, 2026

Fans follow athletes, not faceless national delegations, and they crave story lines: the comeback, the last shot, the breakthrough.

From The Wall Street Journal Feb. 17, 2026

I paint three faceless people—one becomes the sky, one becomes the ocean, and one becomes the sun.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

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