as in defective
having a fault
an imperfect representation of the circumstances surrounding Paul Revere's famous ride
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Recent Examples of imperfect
An imperfect but somewhat suitable substitute is garlic powder.
—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
In his novelistic universe, human beings are governed by emotions, driven by desire, unpredictable, imperfect, fallible—but also possessed of enormous power.
—Karl Ove Knausgaard, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
The sense of social permission to be imperfect mirrors the early internet—wild, weird, and unfiltered.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Sand effects reveal gray and beige undertones, while natural unbleached white denim is imperfect.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imperfect
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
In his novelistic universe, human beings are governed by emotions, driven by desire, unpredictable, imperfect, fallible—but also possessed of enormous power.
—Karl Ove Knausgaard, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
The sense of social permission to be imperfect mirrors the early internet—wild, weird, and unfiltered.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Sand effects reveal gray and beige undertones, while natural unbleached white denim is imperfect.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imperfect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperfect
Adjective
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Progesterone promotes cell death among defective cells that could turn cancerous.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
27 Oct. 2025
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The family contends that the hotel knew, or should have known, that the property’s water heating system was dangerous and defective, accusing management of failing to inspect and maintain the temperatures.—
Julia Marnin,
Sacbee.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Democrats are favored to win both gubernatorial races this year, so a GOP upset in either state would be a bad sign for the party currently locked out of power in Washington.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
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Nick Saban certainly made more good decisions than bad ones during his run to seven national championships as a college football coach.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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As Kikuo’s mentor and Shunsuke’s father, Watanabe brings gravitas to a character no less flawed, and just as persuasive.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Oct. 2025
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The survey polled 16,946 Americans, who self-reported their height and weight, then Gallup relied on body mass index (BMI) calculations — the historically flawed measurement traditionally used by medical professionals to determine healthy weight ranges — to determine who qualified as obese.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Imperfect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperfect. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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