Definition of defectivenext

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 defective The California case is the first time a jury treated social media platforms as defective products designed to exploit young users. Paulina Likos, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026 When asked about the defective cameras in the jail and the lack of a clear timeline explaining how Epstein was able to take his own life, Blanche acknowledged mistakes. Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026 But Tesla’s Cybertruck is the main focus of the suit filed in Alameda County Superior Court, which accuses the company of selling vehicles with a dangerous, defective design while knowing the risk of serious injuries and death. Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026 Second, many of the condos built in the 2000s became embroiled in lengthy litigation over concerns about defective construction. M. Nolan Gray, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defective
Adjective
  • And so, even an imperfect ceasefire is better than resuming full war.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
  • The results were often imperfect or flawed, which required manual correction and refinement.
    Cath Virginia, The Verge, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Kawhi Leonard sat out for the Clippers to rest ankle and wrist injuries, while Draymond Green was out for the Warriors with a bad back.
    CBS News, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Was Paul’s effect on history, incalculably large, good or bad on the whole?
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Although in the hours before splashdown, all eyes were on their spacecraft’s heat shield — which NASA previously said was flawed, according to The New York Times — NASA developed a modified path for the Artemis II mission in order to keep the crew safe during re-entry.
    Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Late payments for major construction projects, expenditures listed in the wrong fiscal year and a flawed budgeting process are just some of the financial problems Groveland needs to fix, the Lake County city’s mayor said in an unusual presentation this week.
    James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Investigators said the leak was caused by a faulty fusion connection between two plastic gas pipes.
    Lexi Salazar, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • All negative emotions come from a faulty judgment about reality.
    Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Ignoring these codes can lead to water stains, discoloration or damaged fabric.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Celebrity hairstylist Sami Knight recommends focusing on products that support scalp health and strengthen the hair fibers — like the Epres bond repair treatment, which can repair and fortify damaged strands.
    Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Crews have spent the last year fixing more than 700 broken streetlights.
    Adam Duxter, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
  • But after these funds dried up, schools have struggled to replace broken or outdated devices, which last on average less than a decade despite Google’s efforts to extend device life spans.
    Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Defective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defective. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on defective

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster