as in imperfect
having a fault
promptly took the defective microwave oven back to the store for a replacement
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defective
That means the cells don’t need to be packed into separate modules to isolate them and try to prevent thermal runaway if they are damaged or defective.
—
Sam Abuelsamid, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
The hack only works on a charger that’s had a small physical modification or is defective.
—PC Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025
The defective design and construction of the switchboard led to the power outage causing the crash, the lawsuit read.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Aug. 2025
Two recent court decisions—one a civil case over an allegedly defective anatomical implant, the other a murder in rural Wisconsin—are the latest in a string of decisions confirming wearables data is fair game and can be pivotal in exposing a wrongdoing or exonerating an innocent person.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for defective
Sam Abuelsamid, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
The hack only works on a charger that’s had a small physical modification or is defective.
—PC Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025
The defective design and construction of the switchboard led to the power outage causing the crash, the lawsuit read.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Aug. 2025
Two recent court decisions—one a civil case over an allegedly defective anatomical implant, the other a murder in rural Wisconsin—are the latest in a string of decisions confirming wearables data is fair game and can be pivotal in exposing a wrongdoing or exonerating an innocent person.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for defective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defective
Adjective
-
These tiles are highly sought after for their rich colors, signature shine, and imperfect, handmade forms.—
Emily Williams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Plenty of people, critics or otherwise, weighed in online, often piling on about their distaste for a perfectly adequate, somewhat imperfect, modestly ambitious thriller that’s mostly about a very intense dude trying to protect his adult children.—
David Bloom,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This was the first time Forest had been beaten by three or more goals at the City Ground in the top flight since February 1999, when they were dismantled 8-1 by Manchester United, and also Nuno’s worst home defeat since his Tottenham team were beaten 3-0, also by United, in October 2021.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
1 Sep. 2025
-
His situation was worse because his team was.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Even now, dozens of flawed decision-making tools that rely on outdated assumptions remain in daily use.—
Craig Spencer,
The Atlantic,
29 Aug. 2025
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Those claims are based on a lack of familiarity with the FIDO spec, flawed logic, and a fundamental misunderstanding of security in general.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says a faulty safety cutoff in the motor can short circuit, creating a risk of overheating and fire.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Sep. 2025
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The vehicles were made with a faulty body control module, so dealers will repair the vehicles for free in two groups.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The April storms brought significant rainfall that caused flooding and damaged infrastructure, produced multiple tornadoes, left thousands without power and caused two deaths.—
Ella McCarthy,
Arkansas Online,
27 Aug. 2025
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Soon afterward, staff started hearing reports that specialist suppliers to the auction house—such as conservators, who repair damaged paintings—were having to wait longer to get paid.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
For her, the loss of $40 isn’t the real issue, but rather the broken trust and the strange turn the situation has taken.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
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As the family unravels, Genevieve must summon the courage to save her broken family – and herself – but not without a cost.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defective. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
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