DEFECT Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

defect 1 of 2

noun

ˈdē-ˌfekt

Definition of defect

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

defect

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of defect

Noun

He had been born prematurely with two serious heart defects and was given just a 2% chance of survival. — Nick Lunemann, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026 These defects have a tin atom positioned between two vacancies in the diamond structure. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026

Verb

If either of them were to defect on Blanche and all Democrats vote no, the panel would deadlock, and Blanche would be blocked from moving forward. — Garrett Downs,karen James Sloan,kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026 Put service churn on the hardware team’s dashboard, next to defect rates and warranty claims. — Ali Aydan, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for defect

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defect

Noun

Cardiac arrhythmia ablation, according to the British Heart Foundation, is when heat or cold energy is used to create tiny scars in the heart to block faulty signals and restore a typical heartbeat.

— Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Wildfire burn scars increase the chances for flash-flooding events.

— Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of scar

Verb

But by rooting her tale in Maya’s family ties, the writer-director explores the complicity of well-to-do South Asian diasporas, and the foundations that afford them the luxury of emigrating in the first place.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Few Republicans have frustrated Democrats in election after election like Valadao, a dairyman whose family emigrated from Portugal's Azores Islands.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of emigrate

Noun

After investigating 600 items of evidence related to the substation, the National Energy System Operator ruled out suspicious activity in a report saying a preventable moisture fault caused the fire, leaving almost 70,000 homes without power.

— Henry Austin, NBC news, 8 Sep. 2026
Others criticized them for often being the progeny of Asian mothers and white fathers, as though this were somehow their fault.

— E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of fault

Verb

However, when her island's resources are threatened, Moana embraces her ancestors' voyaging heritage and heads out to sea to find Maui, deliver the heart of Te Fiti (which Maui stole back in the day) and save her people.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 July 2026
When a blight hits the island, the result of a curse that began when Maui stole a gem representing the heart of the goddess Te Fiti, Moana gets her quest and excuse to voyage — to find the missing Maui and force him to return the stone.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 8 July 2026

Definition of voyage

Noun

For example, patients with bunion deformities may not be able to tolerate their hallux being forced in a straighter position.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
Fetuses of mice suddenly exposed to QACs developed deformities and neural tube defects similar to spina bifida in humans.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of deformity

Verb

Rather than taking the dry way out and heading home on the 4 train, we all got caught up in a more southerly impulse and trekked to our friends’ new place down in Battery Park City.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Daniel talked with dozens of health officials and trekked to Maine and Louisiana for this eye-opening story.

— O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of trek

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“Defect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defect. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of defect

noun

verb

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Synonyms of defect

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Phrases Containing defect

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on defect

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quorum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

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Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

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Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes