capitalized: a member of a Germanic people who lived in the area south of the Baltic Sea between the Vistula and the Oder rivers, overran Gaul, Spain, and northern Africa in the fourth and fifth centuries a.d., and in 455 sacked Rome
2
: one who willfully or ignorantly destroys, damages, or defaces property belonging to another or to the public
Vandals defaced the school's walls. a group of vandals broke into the school and painted graffiti on the walls
Recent Examples on the WebOn Thursday, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan in Massachusetts released video footage of a vandal hurling a brick into Chooljian’s home and asked anyone with information about his identity to contact police. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 31 May 2022 On Thursday, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan in Massachusetts released video footage of a vandal hurling a brick into Chooljian’s home and asked anyone with information about his identity to contact police. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 31 May 2022 UpRising canceled the July 23 evening brunch after a vandal broke windows and wrote derogatory words on the cafe’s walls. Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 On Thursday, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan in Massachusetts released video footage of a vandal hurling a brick into Chooljian’s home and asked anyone with information about his identity to contact police. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 31 May 2022 Police reported two businesses on the block were spray painted and wrote that the vandal was a man. Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2022 On Thursday, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan in Massachusetts released video footage of a vandal hurling a brick into Chooljian's home and asked anyone with information about his identity to contact police. Jonathan Edwards, BostonGlobe.com, 1 June 2022 On Thursday, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan in Massachusetts released video footage of a vandal hurling a brick into Chooljian’s home and asked anyone with information about his identity to contact police. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 31 May 2022 On Thursday, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan in Massachusetts released video footage of a vandal hurling a brick into Chooljian’s home and asked anyone with information about his identity to contact police. Jonathan Edwards, Anchorage Daily News, 1 June 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Late Latin Vandalī (plural) (Latin Vindilī, Vandiliī), probably borrowed from Germanic *wand-il-, noun derivative from a verbal base *wend- "wind, wrap, turn, move" (whence Old English windan to twist, move with speed or force"), as in *auza-wandil-, perhaps, "dawn-wanderer," name of a star and mythological figure (whence Old Norse Aurvandill, Old English ēarendel) — more at wind entry 3