defaced; defacing; defaces
1
: to mar the appearance of : injure by effacing significant details
deface an inscription
2
: impair
3
obsolete
: destroy
defacer
noun
Examples of deface in a Sentence
The building was defaced with graffiti.
He was fined for defacing public property.
Recent Examples on the Web
Gannon, one of 80 or 90 agents assigned to the case, testified that serial numbers had been defaced from gun parts possibly so that law enforcement could not trace them.
—
Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025
Although the Diocese typically purchases a vendor booth for Pride, Danielson says progressive faith leaders stepped up their support after a local rainbow mural was defaced in May 2024.
—Nico Lang, Them., 8 May 2025
At least 10 Tesla dealerships, charging stations and facilities have been hit by vandals, many of whom have lit cars on fire, while a growing collection of videos posted to social media have shown people defacing and damaging Tesla vehicles.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2025
Tesla cars are being defaced and destroyed nationwide to poke Elon Musk and Donald Trump.
—Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
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Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025
Although the Diocese typically purchases a vendor booth for Pride, Danielson says progressive faith leaders stepped up their support after a local rainbow mural was defaced in May 2024.
—Nico Lang, Them., 8 May 2025
At least 10 Tesla dealerships, charging stations and facilities have been hit by vandals, many of whom have lit cars on fire, while a growing collection of videos posted to social media have shown people defacing and damaging Tesla vehicles.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2025
Tesla cars are being defaced and destroyed nationwide to poke Elon Musk and Donald Trump.
—Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deface
Cite this Entry
“Deface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deface. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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Legal Definition
deface
transitive verb
de·face
di-ˈfās 
defaced; defacing
: to destroy or mar the face or surface of
defacement
noun
defacer
noun
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