French Conversation · Level 116
60 words
French word
défigurer
Pronunciation
IPA/defigyʁe/
Meaning
- verbdisfigure
Example
L'accident a défiguré son visage.
The accident disfigured his face.
More examples
La cicatrice l'a complètement défiguré.
The scar completely disfigured him.
Core concept
A face so altered that its former identity is difficult to recognize.
Common phrases
défigurer le visage
disfigure the face
se faire défigurer
get disfigured
Similar words
abîmer: To damage an object's or body's surface and worsen its condition.
blesser: To cause a person an injury that produces pain or bleeding.
déformer: To change an object's or body's shape from its original form.
Definition in French
Rendre méconnaissable l'apparence d'une personne, surtout du visage, par des blessures, des cicatrices ou des déformations.
Word origin
The verb developed from dé- and figure, a word for shape or appearance descended from Latin figura.
Usage tips
- Défigurer usually describes severe lasting damage, while abîmer or blesser is more suitable for lesser harm.
Opposites
- embellirbeautifyverb
Related words
- défigurationdisfigurementnoun
- défigurédisfiguredadjective