1 disfigure | Definition of disfigure

disfigure

verb
dis·​fig·​ure | \ dis-ˈfi-gyÉ™r How to pronounce disfigure (audio) , especially British -ˈfi-gÉ™\
disfigured; disfiguring; disfigures

Definition of disfigure

transitive verb

1 : to impair (as in beauty) by deep and persistent injuries a face disfigured by smallpox
2 obsolete : disguise

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Other Words from disfigure

disfigurement \ dis-​ˈfi-​gyÉ™r-​mÉ™nt How to pronounce disfigurement (audio) , especially British  -​ˈfi-​gÉ™-​ \ noun

Examples of disfigure in a Sentence

His face was disfigured by a scar. the statue was seriously disfigured by falling rubble during the earthquake

Recent Examples on the Web

There was Incahuasi, more than a mile higher than Mont Blanc, its flanks disfigured by ancient lava flows, its summit home to an Incan ceremonial platform. Stanley Stewart, Condé Nast Traveler, "From Buenos Aires to the Chilean Coast: A Road Trip Across South America," 22 Aug. 2019 In this poetic, empathic portrait of a place where ugliness and suffering have been hidden away Farrokhzad observes faces, limbs, hands, and feet grotesquely disfigured by the disease. Peter Keough, BostonGlobe.com, "Doc Talk: Outcasts, deportees, crustaceans, grants," 1 Aug. 2019 He was taken to Mercy Hospital and listed as John Doe for two weeks until police used a mugshot to identify him, even though his face was badly disfigured by the beating, the lawsuit states. Chicago Tribune Staff, chicagotribune.com, "Man taken off life support by wrong family after he was misidentified by Chicago police, lawsuit says," 4 July 2019 Sitting quietly in the very center of central Europe, wedged between bigger and stronger nations (Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland), Slovakia was brutally disfigured by its communist regime, then overshadowed by the Czechs. Rick Steves, USA TODAY, "Rick Steves: Slovakia’s capital is the fastest-changing city in Europe with remarkable comeback," 2 July 2019 De La Hoya didn’t see the light until Pacquiao disfigured his handsome face with combinations. Dylan Hernandez, latimes.com, "Why shouldn’t we worry about Manny Pacquiao boxing at age 40? God, he says," 3 July 2019 Bras with insufficient support, running packs chafing our breasts, hats and head-torches slipping down over our eyes are all irritants that disfigure our pleasure and discourage women from taking part. The Economist, "For women, running is still an act of defiance," 28 June 2019 My surgery had left me pretty disfigured — one breast was the size of a cantaloupe but the other was the size of a grapefruit. Teen Vogue, "I Was Diagnosed With Breast Cancer for the First Time at Age 16," 21 June 2019 Sorry that is not good news; hopefully an arborist can save the tree without disfiguring it. oregonlive.com, "Ask an Expert: Selectively thin branches, rather than ‘top’ a Raywood ash," 14 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'disfigure.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of disfigure

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for disfigure

Middle English, from Anglo-French desfigurer, from des- dis- + figure figure

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More Definitions for disfigure

disfigure

verb

English Language Learners Definition of disfigure

: to spoil or damage the appearance of (something or someone)

disfigure

verb
dis·​fig·​ure | \ dis-ˈfi-gyÉ™r How to pronounce disfigure (audio) \
disfigured; disfiguring

Kids Definition of disfigure

: to spoil the looks of

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