disfigure

1 of 2

verb

dis·​fig·​ure dis-ˈfi-gyər How to pronounce disfigure (audio)
especially British -ˈfi-gə
disfigured; disfiguring; disfigures
Synonyms of disfigurenext

transitive verb

1
: to impair (as in beauty) by deep and persistent injuries
a face disfigured by smallpox
2
obsolete : disguise
disfigurement
dis-ˈfi-gyər-mənt How to pronounce disfigure (audio)
especially British -ˈfi-gə-
noun

disfigurement

2 of 2

noun

dis·​fig·​ure·​ment -mənt How to pronounce disfigurement (audio)
plural -s
1
: the act of disfiguring or the state of being disfigured : defacement
2
: something that disfigures : blot

Synonyms of disfigure

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Verb

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Examples of disfigure in a Sentence

Verb His face was disfigured by a scar. the statue was seriously disfigured by falling rubble during the earthquake
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
Written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, and directed by James Watkins, Clayface centers on a Hollywood movie star named Tom Hagen who is left grossly disfigured following a violent attack orchestrated by a Gotham mob boss. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 Rising movie star Matt Hagen (Harries) is disfigured by a mob boss (Eddie Marsan) and rapidly falls out of Hollywood. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 Clayface is Matt Hagen, an actor whose face is disfigured by a local mob boss. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 Symptoms of the disease include severe itching and disfiguring skin conditions, as well as visual impairment and even permanent blindness after lesions develop on one’s eyes. — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disfigure

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French desfigurer, from des- dis- + figure figure

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of disfigure was in the 14th century

Rhymes for disfigure

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Browse Nearby Words

disfiguration
disfigure
disfigurement
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disfigure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disfigure. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

disfigure

verb
dis·​fig·​ure dis-ˈfig-yər How to pronounce disfigure (audio)
especially British -ˈfig-ər
: to spoil the appearance of
disfigured by a scar
disfigurement
-mənt How to pronounce disfigure (audio)
noun
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