VANDALIZE Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

vandalize

verb

ˈvan-də-ˌlīz

Definition of vandalize

as in to destroy

to deliberately cause the damage or destruction of another's property he decided to vandalize the store because the owner had kicked him out

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of vandalize The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is replacing Dolly Parton’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star after it was vandalized a week after her death at age 80. — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026 Vandalism There have been increasing reports of people vandalizing mounted ALPR cameras nationwide. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2026 Flock cameras have been vandalized in communities around the country recently, including Conway, where officials recently sought to move the cameras from poles provided by Flock and mount them on light or utility poles. — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2026 In 2026, multiple Flock cameras in California were vandalized, torn down or destroyed by civilians leading to arrests in Sacramento County, Monterey County, Placer County and Alameda County. — Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vandalize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vandalize

Verb

In 2025, Ukraine smuggled over 100 drones into Russia inside cargo trucks to conduct strikes that damaged or destroyed roughly one-third of Russia’s active bomber fleet and caused approximately $7 billion in damages.

— Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026
Some 36,000 houses and buildings were destroyed or damaged, and more than 2,000 people are still living in evacuation centers, including school gymnasiums and community centers.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of destroy

Verb

SpaceX now has the dubious honor of being the first company to deface the moon, after a piece of one of its rockets crashed into Earth’s only natural satellite earlier this month.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026
Preservationists, architects and historians warn that painting the 19th century facade would trap moisture, accelerate deterioration and deface one of Washington’s most important historic structures.

— Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of deface

Verb

And yet the company's earnings garners scant attention compared to those names, to say nothing of Nvidia, which smashed expectations last week.

— Michael Khouw, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Bland said officers were dispatched after a 911 caller reported that Garcia had been walking down the street with a baseball bat, smashing car windows.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of smash

Verb

The fight between a small Georgia community and tech giant Meta has escalated this week after four families filed a lawsuit against the company alleging a central Georgia data center project has contaminated their water and ruined their home values.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Gen, forgetting her swollen wrist, perks up at the thought of having a new person to ruin sheets with.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of ruin

Verb

In its March 9 lawsuit, Anthropic alleged the government violated its right to free speech under the First Amendment to the Constitution by retaliating against its views on AI safety.

— Reuters, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
The administration is appealing a June ruling by a lower court that the ban probably violated the troops’ constitutional rights and cannot be enforced against those currently serving while the litigation continues.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of violate

Verb

Maiquetía International airport, outside Caracas, was damaged from twin earthquakes on June 24 that devastated the country.

— Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
The flooding inundated areas along the Trishuli River, burying some buildings and damaging bridges and roadways.

— Jon Haworth, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of damage

Verb

The socialist government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been trashed by the opposition over the crisis, who accuse them of failing to act.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2026
Simpson even took the emcee’s mic at Love’s charity softball game in June to trash his quarterback’s ping-pong skills.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of trash

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vandalization

vandalize

vandalized

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“Vandalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vandalize. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of vandalize

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