When you need to describe an object or artwork that has been permanently marked with words, symbols, or a design, you might use the phrase "be inscribed". However, there are a number of synonyms that could convey the same meaning in slightly different ways. For example, you could say the object was "engraved," to suggest that the markings were cut or chiseled into the material. Alternatively, you could use the verb "etched," which implies the design was created with acid or another chemical. The words "carved," "imprinted," and "impressed" could also be used to describe an object that was marked in a similar manner.