'vandalize' originates from the word 'Vandal,' referring to the Germanic tribe known for sacking Rome, combined with the suffix '-ize' to form a verb.

'Vandal' transformed into the English verb 'vandalize' in the 20th century, emphasizing the act of destruction associated with the Vandals.

Initially, it referred to acts of destruction similar to those attributed to the Vandals, and this meaning has remained consistent.