vandalizing
Wrecking public property
Vandalizing is deliberately damaging or defacing property, especially public property: Someone vandalized the statue with spray paint, The school was vandalized over the weekend.
The damage is typically senseless rather than for profit—graffiti, broken windows, slashed tires.
The word comes from the Vandals, a Germanic tribe notorious for sacking Rome.
Damaging an appearance
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- desecrationViolating something sacred
- disfigurementMarred physical appearance
mutilation · marring · scarring · ruining · wrecking · trashing · smashing · breaking
Attaching identifying markers
- scrawlingWriting messily, hastily
- etchingAcid-incised metal print
- scratchingRaking with nails
- stencilingPattern transfer via template
bombing · throw-ups · tags · markers · aerosol · murals · writers · crew
British slang for excellent
- keyingInputting via buttons
- slashingCutting with force
- eggingThrowing shells as vandalism
- toilet-paperingPrank with bathroom tissue
breaking · torching · scratching · carving · shattering · kicking · bashing · gouging
Unauthorized presence on property
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- felonySerious criminal offense
- arsonCriminal deliberate burning
- destruction of propertyDamaging belongings intentionally
criminal mischief · prosecution · arrest · juvenile delinquency · hooliganism · offense · charge · citation
defacement
Damaging an appearance
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- desecrationViolating something sacred
disfigurement · mutilation · marring · scarring · ruining · wrecking · trashing · smashing · breaking · demolishing
tagging
Attaching identifying markers
- scrawlingWriting messily, hastily
- etchingAcid-incised metal print
- scratchingRaking with nails
stenciling · bombing · throw-ups · tags · markers · aerosol · murals · writers · crew · drips
smashing
British slang for excellent
toilet-papering · breaking · torching · scratching · carving · shattering · kicking · bashing · gouging · tearing
trespassing
Unauthorized presence on property
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- felonySerious criminal offense
- arsonCriminal deliberate burning
destruction of property · criminal mischief · prosecution · arrest · juvenile delinquency · hooliganism · offense · charge · citation · penalty
monuments
Structures commemorating notable achievements
- statuesThree-dimensional sculpted likenesses
- memorialsTributes to the departed
- propertySomething owned or inherent
vehicles · buildings · walls · windows · gravestones · buses · trains · mailboxes · benches · signage
- hostile behaviorsattacking, bullying, fighting, harassing, hitting
- misconductmisconduct, bullying, stealing, cheating, harassment
- plunderlooting, loot, booty, pillaging, spoils
- misusingabusing, mishandling, misapplying, misappropriating, misallocating
vandalizingrepairing
Restoring broken items
restoring · fixing · mending · renovating · rebuilding
vandalizingpreserving
Protecting from deterioration
protecting · safeguarding · conserving · maintaining · caring for
vandalizingbeautifying
Making more attractive
embellishing · adorning · decorating · enhancing · improving
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