What does "efface" mean?
To erase (as anything impressed or inscribed upon a surface); to render illegible or indiscernible.
Efface
/əˈfeɪs/ verb
verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To erase (as anything impressed or inscribed upon a surface); to render illegible or indiscernible.
- Grammar: efface is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: erase, obliterate, annihilate, annul.
- Useful contrasts: appear, emerge, inscribes.
- Usage evidence: I tried to efface the memory of her tears.
How to use "efface"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "efface" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "efface" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "efface" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "efface" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "efface" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "erase" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "efface", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 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 remove completely from recognition or memory wordnet
- 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 remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing wordnet
- 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
- 6 make inconspicuous wordnet
- 7 Of the cervix during pregnancy, to thin and stretch in preparation for labor. intransitive
- 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 synonymsExample
"I tried to efface the memory of her tears."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "efface"?
Common synonyms include: erase, obliterate, annihilate, annul, black out, blot.
How do you use "efface" in a sentence?
I tried to efface the memory of her tears.
How do you pronounce "efface"?
Pronounced /əˈfeɪs/.
Etymology
From Middle French effacer (“erase”), from Old French esfacier (“remove the face”).