Defaces

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To alter the exterior of a surface in a way that diminishes its beauty ; To render an object less visually appealing by making modifications ; To spoil the attractiveness of an item through damage or alteration in its design
2. To damage or spoil the outer look of something, reducing its aesthetic quality ; To erase, cover up, or deface identifying signs, labels, or inscriptions on an object
3. Causing harm or disfigurement to the visible exterior of an item; applying markings or actions that make an object less recognizable or anonymized

Etymology: "Defaces" is the third-person singular present form of "deface", which means to spoil the appearance of something, often by marring its surface. The verb came into Middle English as "defacen", borrowed from Old French "defacier" or "desfacier", meaning to mutilate, destroy or disfigure. Its roots are the prefix "des-", meaning "away from", and the Late Latin "facia", meaning face. The original sense was thus about taking a face away from something, stripping away its features.

Synonyms: vandalizes, disfigures, damages, spoils, mutilates

Antonyms: beautifies, restores, renovates, adorns, improves