defacement
Marring a surface
Defacement is the act of marring or disfiguring something, especially by marking or damaging its surface: The defacement of the monument sparked public outrage.
The term often appears in contexts of vandalism—graffiti on buildings, damage to public property, or alterations to websites by hackers.
What distinguishes defacement from destruction is that the thing remains recognizable but spoiled.
Illegal surface markings
- taggingAttaching identifying markers
- spray paintAerosolized coating in cans
- scrawlCareless, illegible writing
- scribbleWrite without care
marker · etching · keying · stencil · scratch · carving · smearing · property damage
Violation of the hallowed
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
- profanationViolation of sanctity
- violationBreaking of rules
- defilementAct of corrupting purity
dishonor · disrespect · contamination · corruption · tainting · degradation · irreverence · spoliation
Permanent mark formation
- marringCausing damage or disfigurement
- mutilationDamaging a body severely
- distortionTwisting from original state
- blemishVisible flaw or mark
scratch · gouge · slash · tear · scoring · acid attack · ink · paint
Infiltrating protected digital systems
- websiteOnline page collection
- webpageSingle online document
- cyberattackMalicious digital intrusion
- breachBreaking of agreement
intrusion · compromise · hack · exploit · redirect · malware · injection · unauthorized access
graffiti
Illegal surface markings
- taggingAttaching identifying markers
- spray paintAerosolized coating in cans
- scrawlCareless, illegible writing
scribble · marker · etching · keying · stencil · scratch · carving · smearing · property damage · public property
sacrilege
Violation of the hallowed
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
- profanationViolation of sanctity
- violationBreaking of rules
defilement · dishonor · disrespect · contamination · corruption · tainting · degradation · irreverence · spoliation · monument
scarring
Permanent mark formation
- marringCausing damage or disfigurement
- mutilationDamaging a body severely
- distortionTwisting from original state
blemish · scratch · gouge · slash · tear · scoring · acid attack · ink · paint · permanent marker
hacking
Infiltrating protected digital systems
- websiteOnline page collection
- webpageSingle online document
- cyberattackMalicious digital intrusion
breach · intrusion · compromise · hack · exploit · redirect · malware · injection · unauthorized access · homepage
- cyberattacksmalware, phishing, ransomware, hack, virus
- damage claimsproperty damage, fire damage, water damage, storm damage, hail damage
- Property Crimesburglary, larceny, robbery, vandalism, arson
- vandalismvandalism, tagging, graffiti tags, graffiti, property damage
- flagsFrench flag, flags, Italian flag, colors, bunting
- destructiondestruction, destroying, demolishing, devastation, ruination
defacementrestoration
Returning something to condition
repair · renovation · refurbishment · mending · reconditioning
defacementpreservation
Maintaining something's condition
protection · conservation · safeguarding · saving · salvage
defacementsanctification
Making someone or something sacred
consecration · honoring · veneration · enshrinement · reverence