as in defect
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing
noted the flaw in the diamond before I bought it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
that crack has flawed the vase to the extent that its value in the antiques market is greatly reduced
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flaw
Simon Bland, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2025
So, when the Bengals sifted through the rubble of available quarterback options Monday, all with glaring flaws in their fit, Flacco, of 200 regular-season games played, knows where the ball is supposed to go on an NFL field.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Liyam Chitayat, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
Past attempts at crop substitution failed due to bureaucratic hurdles, missing funds, and flawed agricultural projects.
—Bram Ebus, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flaw
Noun
Regardless of its patchwork flaws and the narrative inconsistencies that have come to define its digital footprint in the years since, by all accounts, the overall experience of making the film stayed true to Candy’s core sensibilities.
—Simon Bland, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2025
So, when the Bengals sifted through the rubble of available quarterback options Monday, all with glaring flaws in their fit, Flacco, of 200 regular-season games played, knows where the ball is supposed to go on an NFL field.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
Although flawed in many ways, the BWC has helped prevent the spread of biological weapons.
—Liyam Chitayat, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
Past attempts at crop substitution failed due to bureaucratic hurdles, missing funds, and flawed agricultural projects.
—Bram Ebus, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flaw
Noun
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But its stock’s advance has lagged that of rival GM as costly recalls to fix quality defects have detracted from Farley’s strategic refocusing and efforts to improve profit margins.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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By protecting tungsten diselenide’s atomic-scale defects, the coating dramatically improved photon reliability.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At the same time, people familiar with the investigation told me that Khan has devoted much of his defense to convincing investigators that Israel and its allies are exploiting the accuser in order to damage him and the court.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
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This common strain releases a toxin that can damage blood vessels in the intestines and kidneys, which can cause serious complications like kidney damage.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Dark brown blotches of varying sizes dot their sides and back.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
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This fungal disease appears as gray blotches on the bark, eventually developing into sunken cankers.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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What little momentum the Broncos created was frequently marred by penalties, and a third-down sack had ruined a scoring chance in the first half.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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The show was marred only by an audio mix that dimmed Coleman’s evocative voice amid a wash of instruments — at least from this reviewer’s spot in the Fox — but the Red Clay Strays’ impact shone through nevertheless.—
Brian McCollum,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Psycho is a film that has left scars.—
Samantha Allen,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
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Despite the social stigma surrounding tattoos in Vietnam, Ngoc empowers her clients, including breast cancer survivors and women with self-harm scars, to reclaim their bodies, demonstrating that her work is a profound act of compassion and resilience.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While grappling with a hamstring injury, Chourio remains compromised on the bases.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
In diseases like Alzheimer’s, this delicate system, particularly the blood-brain barrier, becomes compromised.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The two people injured in the crash were taken to a hospital for further medical evaluation.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
10 Oct. 2025
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An elk hunter was seriously injured in a bear attack in British Columbia, according to Canadian authorities.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Its lackluster response allowed Israel to cripple the Axis of Resistance, batter Hezbollah in September and October 2024, position itself to aid in the fall of the Assad regime in December, then directly strike Iran in June, killing dozens of top leaders.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Oct. 2025
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The incident highlights how cyberattacks can cripple businesses, resulting in production shortages.—
Senior Reporter,
PC Magazine,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flaw. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
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