vandalize

verb

ˈvan-də-ˌlīz How to pronounce vandalize (audio)
Definition of vandalizenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 His car has been vandalized while crammed in unsafe parking lots. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 One stretch of road in Folsom saw two Flock cameras vandalized last week, according to the Folsom Police Department. — Haley Parsley august 22, Sacbee.com, 22 Aug. 2026 Some cities have cancelled their Flock contracts, and some critics have gone so far as to vandalize the cameras. — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 Trump blamed the sealant issues on vandalism without providing evidence, and felony charges were brought against a former Olympic canoeist, David Hearn, after he was accused of vandalizing the pool. — Matthew Daly, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vandalize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vandalize
  1. destroy
  2. deface
  3. demolish
  4. smash
  5. ruin
  6. violate
  7. damage
  8. trash
Verb
  • Almost 50 homes and other structures have been destroyed so far; there have been several injuries, and one of Tibbetts’s neighbors lost 20 German shepherds.
    — Anya Kamenetz, Curbed, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The flood then destroyed roads and knocked out power and phone networks, leaving families unable to establish even the most basic facts.
    — Laura Saravia, NBC news, 27 Aug. 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
  • Later demolished, the home sat directly across the street from a far more modern residence by a designer with ties to the Tao restaurant chain and the Venetian Las Vegas.
    — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 25 Aug. 2026
  • That then will allow the existing Willowcreek Middle School to be demolished.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of demolish
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
  • But if clouds ruin your view — or the moon is below the horizon at the time of the eclipse — there's no need to fret!
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The news of the relationship almost ruined the church, which quickly began hemorrhaging members.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 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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Cite this Entry

“Vandalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vandalize. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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