Efface

//əˈfeɪs// verb

verb ·Uncommon ·College level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To erase (as anything impressed or inscribed upon a surface); to render illegible or indiscernible. transitive

    "Do not efface what I've written on the chalkboard."

  2. 2
    remove completely from recognition or memory wordnet
  3. 3
    To cause to disappear as if by rubbing out or striking out. transitive

    "Some people like to efface their own memories with alcohol."

  4. 4
    remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing wordnet
  5. 5
    To make oneself inobtrusive as if due to modesty or diffidence. intransitive

    "Many people seem shy, but they really just efface for meekness."

Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    make inconspicuous wordnet
  2. 7
    Of the cervix during pregnancy, to thin and stretch in preparation for labor. intransitive
  3. 8
    Of a woman: to have the cervix thin and stretch in this manner. intransitive

    "Some females efface 75% by the 39th week of pregnancy."

Synonyms

All synonyms
eraseobliterateannihilateannulblack outblot

Example

More examples

"I tried to efface the memory of her tears."

Etymology

From Middle French effacer (“erase”), from Old French esfacier (“remove the face”).

Related phrases

self-effacingrub outstrike out

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.