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 My neighbor’s child recently vandalized my fence and got caught lying about it. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026 The Guardian identified at least 33 cases of people vandalizing and destroying Flock cameras. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026 These include the perpetrators who vandalized Rego Park synagogues with swastikas and antisemitic slogans in early May, as well as the perpetrator who threw feces and motor oil at Queens synagogues in mid-July. — Rachel Sales, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 In Utah, the Garfield County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that a Flock camera was vandalized within days of being installed. — Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 6 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
  • The Inwood Fire Department said dozens of cabanas were damaged or destroyed at the Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In Solomianskyi district, the top two floors of a 9-story residential building were destroyed and fires broke out on other floors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 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
  • Meanwhile, a Russian missile strike on a village in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region killed at least 10 people and wounded eight others as the barrage demolished homes, officials said Tuesday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Next steps for the Excelsior Club The site was demolished in July after engineering assessments determined the building was unsalvageable.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of demolish
Verb
  • The footage shows Williams clutching Nathaniel as heavy waves repeatedly smash into them.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • MuMe’s security systems were triggered when the thieves smashed glass display cases in the museum.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of smash
Verb
  • This allegedly caused the cancellation of school recesses, and also ruining weddings and funerals.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Shane loves Ilya, but fears going public will ruin their careers.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruin
Verb
  • Romanian airspace had been violated by Russian drones at least 23 times so far this year -- already more than the 18 incidents recorded between 2022 and the end of 2025.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Compliance and legal teams need to be able to audit why an employee used AI to draft a customer contract, verify guardrails were in place and ensure the output didn't violate regulatory requirements.
    — Victor Riparbelli, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of violate
Verb
  • The Iran war has damaged refineries in the Middle East and slowed the export of fuel out of that region.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The Inwood Fire Department said dozens of cabanas were damaged or destroyed at the Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of damage
Verb
  • From trashing bedrooms and throwing couches, the pair tumbles down stairs and has a chase across the lawn before ending up in the pool.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Murphy, traveling the country promoting his recent book and opining on the state of the Democrats, returned to Connecticut to boost Larson and trash Bronin.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 15 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 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of vandalize for Spanish Speakers

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