as in scar
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing
the statue has a slight defect on the base, so it's being sold at a discount
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Recent Examples of defect
Mike Wall, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2025
The volume’s premise is that institutional defects in the electoral system give extreme candidates and factions an undue voice, producing a disproportionate number of extremist winners.
—Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Oriana González, Them, 21 Mar. 2025
The basic history of U.S.-China and U.S.-Taiwan relations After the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949, two governments laid claim to China: the People’s Republic of China (PRC) which took over the mainland, and the Republic of China (ROC) which defected to the island of Taiwan.
—Chad De Guzman, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defect
Noun
Hubble launched to Earth orbit 35 years ago today (April 24) with a flawed primary mirror, an image-blurring defect that made the scope the butt of jokes and put its entire ambitious mission in jeopardy.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2025
The volume’s premise is that institutional defects in the electoral system give extreme candidates and factions an undue voice, producing a disproportionate number of extremist winners.
—Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
The bill passed with only three Democrats defecting from the rest of the party.
—Oriana González, Them, 21 Mar. 2025
The basic history of U.S.-China and U.S.-Taiwan relations After the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949, two governments laid claim to China: the People’s Republic of China (PRC) which took over the mainland, and the Republic of China (ROC) which defected to the island of Taiwan.
—Chad De Guzman, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defect
Noun
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Shaved her head, grappled with surgery scars and bald spots.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
7 May 2025
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Overall rejuvenation is the goal, with issues like fine lines, early-stage sagging, large pores or acne scars being targeted.—
Perrie Samotin,
Glamour,
3 May 2025
Verb
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The specialty is Bun bo Hue ($19), a spicy and savory noodle soup traditional to the Vietnamese city of Hue from which Tran’s family emigrated.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
8 May 2025
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Israeli officials say the new military plans would advance efforts to encourage Palestinians to emigrate from Gaza, a notion Trump articulated earlier this year.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
5 May 2025
Noun
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This fungal disease causes yellow blotches on pumpkins, tomato leaves, squash and cucumbers.—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2025
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Photos depict a heartbreaking sight, with Hector’s rib cage protruding through his weakened body as red blotches line his ivory and brown coat.—
TJ Macias,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In fact, her pilgrimage back to Mexico after completing her studies wasn’t merely a homecoming, but a calling to immerse herself in indigenous communities.—
Pooja Shah,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
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People pilgrimage here to sample the best of traditional rural Portuguese cuisine in a delightful countryside setting.—
Isabelle Kliger,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Some possible scenarios include: The Department of Justice: If criminal activity occurred, and Evolve is found at fault, then the DOJ could force it to pay.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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Video of flames at the base of an Edison transmission tower in Eaton Canyon on the night the fire began raised suspicions that the utility’s equipment was at fault.—
Caroline Petrow-Cohen,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Recession Fears Causing Travel Upsets For travelers planning to voyage internationally to the U.S., the biggest fear is the cost of living in the country, a fear shared by U.S. consumers, too.—
Alex Ledsom,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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To be clear, this theory is incorrect, and those six women really did voyage into space in a Blue Origin rocket, but where did this story come from?—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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However, the council continued to deny any connection between the waste removal and the limb deformities, according to The Guardian.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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Morrison also injured her hip and shoulder, according to Kruse, but the fracture brought on a spinal deformity and chronic pain.—
Julia Gomez,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Starting in July, millions of animals cross the Mara River in search of new grazing ground, trekking from the southern Serengeti to the grasslands of the Maasai Mara.—
Mark Ellwood,
AFAR Media,
8 May 2025
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Social media posts also indicated the two trekked out to the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival together.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defect. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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