vandalism
/ˈvændəlɪzəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈvændəlɪzəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈvan-də-ˌli-zəm/ (ame, mw)
vandalism — noun
1. the act of deliberately breaking, damaging, or marking the property of another p
the act of deliberately breaking, damaging, or marking the property of another person or the public, which is treated as a crime.
Naoko was shocked to see the vandalism in the park — the benches were all broken.
uncountable noun for criminal property damage
The school installed cameras to stop vandalism after someone painted on the walls.
Graffiti is sometimes seen as vandalism, but others view it as street art.
Gabriel found the vandalism upsetting because the library window had been smashed.
The city spends millions each year repairing damage caused by vandalism.
- destruction
stronger in meaning; implies complete ruin, whereas vandalism suggests deliberate but not necessarily total damage
- damage
broader term covering both intentional and accidental harm
- defacement
narrower; refers specifically to damaging a surface or appearance
- preservation
the act of keeping property in good condition, opposite of damaging it
- conservation
protecting and maintaining things of value rather than destroying them
用法筆記
Frequently used as an uncountable noun — do not use 'a' or 'an' before it. Common after prepositional phrases beginning with 'act of' or 'form of'.
常見錯誤
2. actions that harm or ruin something valuable in a non-physical way, such as a re
actions that harm or ruin something valuable in a non-physical way, such as a reputation, an idea, or a work of art.
Critics called the changes to the historic building an act of vandalism.
metaphorical extension: ruining something of value
Sofie considered the film director's new version an act of vandalism against the original story.
Spreading false rumours about a colleague is a form of social vandalism.
Lien thinks that tearing down old buildings is vandalism against the city's memory.
Hugo said that removing the old murals was vandalism against the neighbourhood's culture.
- desecration
stronger moral/religious connotation; implies violation of something sacred
- sabotage
implies a strategic goal of disrupting operations or systems
- spoiling
less formal and broader in meaning; does not carry the same deliberate malice
- respect
showing care and regard for something rather than damaging it
- appreciation
recognising and valuing something, the opposite of spoiling it
用法筆記
Always uncountable; do not use with an indefinite article. The metaphorical meaning often follows the pattern '___ is (an act of) vandalism' where the subject is a change or action perceived as spoiling something valuable.