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
Mason Leath, ABC News, 11 June 2026
Research firm SemiAnalysis has previously noted that while NIL equipment can be cheaper than advanced lithography tools, overall economics depend on factors such as defect rates, template production, throughput, and process integration.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026
Nick Miller, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Then on another occasion his teammates had a change of heart and decided not to defect along with him, forcing him to reconsider.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defect
Noun
During testing, Claude Mythos was able to exploit thousands of bugs and software defects in major operating systems and browsers online, but it was never widely released to the public.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 11 June 2026
Research firm SemiAnalysis has previously noted that while NIL equipment can be cheaper than advanced lithography tools, overall economics depend on factors such as defect rates, template production, throughput, and process integration.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026
Verb
The Eritrean football team was not allowed to take part in qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations from 2008 until this year, primarily because the country’s rulers thought that players would defect while playing abroad.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Then on another occasion his teammates had a change of heart and decided not to defect along with him, forcing him to reconsider.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defect
Noun
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The scars left by this Western Conference Final defeat to the Chicago Wolves in seven games will linger.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
11 June 2026
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This month marks 10 years since the horrendous attack on the Pulse nightclub, which stole the lives of 49 people, wounded dozens more, and left indelible scars on survivors, families, friends and neighbors.—
David Kay,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Cantor and his family, who originally emigrated to Sacramento the year before, settled in the San Gabriel Valley after the World Cup, setting him on his unshakable path.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
11 June 2026
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His mother’s family came to Israel from Iraq, among hundreds of thousands of Jews from centuries-old communities across the Middle East who emigrated to Israel to escape violence and persecution.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Inadequate iron causes young leaves to appear yellow with green veins, while magnesium deficiency causes blotches or spots on older leaves.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
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But skimping on the self-tanner can actually result in blotches and stripes.—
Deanna Pai,
Glamour,
6 June 2026
Verb
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There are hiking trails and even pilgrimage routes all over the world.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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Nearly 100,000 visitors pilgrimage to the area annually to witness a forest canopy cloaked in orange-and-black wings.—
Jen Murphy,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But while not as well known as some of its fault-busting brethren, the July 8, 1986, temblor kicked off a series of quakes that rattled Southern California for the better part of a decade.—
Shelby Grad,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
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The helicopter crashed Wednesday in Muzaffarabad, the regional capital, apparently because of a technical fault, according to Pakistan’s military.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Silversea is lauded for both its classic ocean liners and expedition ships, which voyage the globe including the Poles.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Some ships even reposition between polar regions or across the Southern Hemisphere—voyages far longer than most standard cruises ever attempt.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Signs of scoliosis Early detection is important and can help prevent progression of spinal deformity and reduce the need for surgery.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
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Complex tumors, spinal deformity surgery, ruptured aneurysms, and high-acuity patients will continue to require the full resources of tertiary care centers.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Starting in Chiang Mai, travelers will trek into the mountains to visit remote villages and explore deep caves on a bamboo raft.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
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Having trekked the territory with his trusty surveyor’s compass, and in the absence of anyone else rash enough to do it, Washington volunteers to deliver an ultimatum to the encroaching French forces.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defect. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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