What is another word for damaging property?

Asked by: Priscilla Kessler  |  Last update: February 14, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (37 votes)

Another word for damaging property is vandalism, which covers deliberate destruction like wrecking, defacing, sabotage, trashing, smashing, ruining, or desecrating; more formal terms include destruction, impairment, or dilapidation, while legal terms are often criminal damage or malicious mischief.

What is another word for property damage?

Law enforcement often uses these interchangeably, but they all fall under the general heading of vandalism. The other names for property damage include criminal damage, malicious trespass, or malicious mischief.

What is a word for damaging property?

Vandalism is the destruction of someone else's property. Some people think of graffiti as public art, while others dismiss it as nothing but vandalism. If you damage public or private property on purpose, you've committed the crime of vandalism.

What is the legal term for damaging property?

California Penal Code § 594 PC defines the crime of vandalism as maliciously damaging, destroying or defacing someone else's property. Vandalism is a misdemeanor if the amount of damage is less than $400.00. But the charge can be a felony if the damage is $400.00 or greater.

What is another word for destruction of property?

noun

  • vandalization.
  • destruction.
  • defacement.
  • defacing.
  • wrecking.
  • trashing.
  • desecration.
  • sabotage.

The TWO words that MUST appear on your house deed!

16 related questions found

What is property damage called?

Property damage (sometimes called damage to property) is the damage or destruction of real or tangible personal property, caused by negligence, willful destruction, or an act of nature.

What is a better word for damage?

Common synonyms for "damage" include harm, injury, detriment, ruin, spoil, impair, hurt, and destruction, varying slightly depending on whether it's used as a noun (e.g., physical damage) or a verb (e.g., to damage a car). Other related words describe specific types of damage, like blemish, wound, bruise, tarnish, weaken, or devastate. 

What are the 4 major classification of property damage?

You can always file a claim for residential property damage, commercial property damage, motor vehicle damage, or personal property damage. Haffner Law breaks down the different types of property damage claims you can get compensation for.

What is a fancy word for destruction?

demolition, devastation. annihilation carnage elimination eradication extermination extinction loss massacre murder ruin slaughter.

What is intentionally damaging or destroying another's property called?

Vandalism is a crime that involves intentionally damaging the property of another person. In New York vandalism is referred to as “criminal mischief.” There are 4 criminal mischief offenses in the New York criminal code.

What's it called when people destroy property?

Deliberate destruction of or damage to property, often referred to as vandalism, is when an individual intentionally harms, defaces, or destroys another's physical belongings. This behavior can range from breaking windows, setting fires, or causing water-related harm inside a home or business.

What is a smart word for destroy?

Common synonyms for destroy include ruin, demolish, devastate, annihilate, eradicate, shatter, wreck, obliterate, and wipe out, with many others depending on context, like kill, extinguish, dismantle, or overthrow, all meaning to end, damage, or eliminate something. 

What are common types of property damage?

While every policy is unique, some of the common types of property damage an insurance policy may cover include:

  • Wind and Hurricane Damage. ...
  • Fire and Smoke Damage. ...
  • Water and Mold Damage. ...
  • Roof Damage. ...
  • Vandalism and Robbery.

What are the 4 types of vandalism?

Four common types of vandalism include Graffiti/Tagging, Property Damage (like breaking windows or slashing tires), Arson (fire vandalism), and Theft/Looting**, with other categories focusing on motive like ideological (protest), vindictive (revenge), or play-based (youthful mischief)**. These acts involve intentionally damaging or defacing public or private property for various reasons, from personal gain to expressing a cause.
 

What are the five types of damages?

There are five important types of damages that might be available, depending on your situation: compensatory damages, specific performance, an injunction, liquidated damages, or rescission. If you are dealing with a potential breach of contract, you probably need legal advice on what you should do next.

What is the word for damaging property?

The term "vandalism" describes conduct that defaces or damages public or private property. Laws that prohibit vandalism might reference terms such as unlawful graffiti, criminal property damage, or criminal or malicious mischief.

What is another word for damage or destroy?

Words for damage or destroy include ruin, demolish, devastate, wreck, shatter, spoil, impair, harm, injure, obliterate, dismantle, and annihilate, with the best choice depending on the degree and type of harm, from slight impairment to complete obliteration. 

What are 5 strong synonyms?

Five strong synonyms for "strong" are powerful, robust, sturdy, tenacious, and resilient, offering variations for physical might, durability, determination, and ability to recover. 

What is a word for extremely destructive?

[dih-struhk-tiv] / dɪˈstrʌk tɪv / ADJECTIVE. injurious, devastating. calamitous cataclysmic catastrophic damaging deadly detrimental disastrous fatal harmful hurtful lethal pernicious ruinous suicidal toxic.

What is considered damage to property?

Property damage is the harm, destruction, or loss of value to tangible items like real estate (homes, buildings) or personal belongings (cars, furniture, electronics), caused by negligence, accidents, vandalism, or natural events, leading to repair, replacement, or diminished value costs for the owner. It covers physical harm, loss of use, and can be addressed through insurance or legal claims to seek compensation for costs.
 

How to write a property damage report?

What Should be Included in a Property Damage Incident Report?

  1. Date and Time of the Damage.
  2. Reporter's Contact Information.
  3. Property and Property Owner Information.
  4. Description of Damage.
  5. Cause of Damage.
  6. Injury/Accident Report.
  7. Visual Documentation/Evidence.
  8. Witness Information.

What is the most common cause of property damage?

Top 7 Most Common Causes of Home Property Damage

  • Water Damage & Freezing Pipes. According to the Insurance Information Institute, water-related claims make up nearly 30% of all home insurance claims. ...
  • Wind & Hail Damage. ...
  • Fire & Smoke Damage. ...
  • Theft & Vandalism. ...
  • Mold Damage. ...
  • Sewer Backups & Sump Pump Failures. ...
  • Liability Claims.

What is another name for damage to property?

Synonyms for damage to property in English

  • property damage.
  • material damage.
  • physical damage.
  • material harm.
  • material destruction.
  • material losses.
  • property damaged.
  • destruction to property.

What is a strong word for "destroy"?

demolish, devastate. consume crush damage dismantle end eradicate gut impair kill maim ravage raze ruin sabotage shatter smash smash-up wipe out wreck. STRONG.

What is damage in simple words?

injury or harm that reduces value or usefulness.