as in imperfect
having a fault
promptly took the defective microwave oven back to the store for a replacement
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defective
Despite knowing the product was defective and replicating customers’ explosions in tests, Sunbeam and its parent company, Newell, told the Consumer Product Safety Commission that the product didn’t need to be recalled and that user error was causing the issue.
—
Sponsored Content, The Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2025
If either the hypothalamus or pituitary gland is damaged or defective, estrogen and testosterone levels will drop.
—James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, Md, Verywell Health, 27 Feb. 2025
The toddlers were treated using gene therapy, through which patients are given a harmless virus containing healthy versions of a defective gene in order to remedy the problem.
—David Prosser, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Put side by side with the Chrome extension, MacKeeper’s Safari extension looks defective.
—PCMAG, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defective
Sponsored Content, The Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2025
If either the hypothalamus or pituitary gland is damaged or defective, estrogen and testosterone levels will drop.
—James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, Md, Verywell Health, 27 Feb. 2025
The toddlers were treated using gene therapy, through which patients are given a harmless virus containing healthy versions of a defective gene in order to remedy the problem.
—David Prosser, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Put side by side with the Chrome extension, MacKeeper’s Safari extension looks defective.
—PCMAG, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defective
Adjective
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Will Elio then, despite the thrills he’s enjoyed in space, come to a better understanding of the real if imperfect love that Olga has been offering him from Earth all along?—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2025
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Many Americans saw the base redesignations as the camel’s nose under the tent in the left’s goal to throw down Washington, Jefferson, and everything else that is great, and yet imperfect, in our American past.—
The Editors,
National Review,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
In your garden, stink bugs can be a real bad problem...—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
28 June 2025
-
After several months of strong economic news but incredibly weak consumer sentiment, America is starting to see those trends reverse: The vibes are on the rebound, but evidence is mounting that the economy is getting worse.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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His main opponent in the primary was a deeply flawed yet mainstream candidate.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2025
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This character of Michelle was so juicy (laughs) and so flawed.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Shoppers were informed about a range of issues, including undeclared allergens in food products, faulty medical devices, fire-risk mattresses, and potentially hazardous children's furniture.—
Chloe Mayer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
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The lawyers say faulty equipment on the line ignited both blazes in the same way.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
Several broken waste bins were not fixed in a timely manner.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
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The problem is worsened by the broken and outmoded state of the Oscars’ Best International Feature category, which lets foreign governments handpick their own submissions and launder their public images.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defective. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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