as in imperfect
having a fault
promptly took the defective microwave oven back to the store for a replacement
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defective
Building on earlier biochemical discoveries, researchers administered a CoQ10 precursor that bypasses the defective step in the energy-production pathway.
—
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
But other companies that don’t get sued as often for selling defective vehicles, such as Toyota and Honda, opposed the rule change.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 29 Dec. 2025
But other companies that don’t get sued as often for selling defective vehicles, such as Toyota and Honda, opposed the rule change.
—Calmatters, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Dec. 2025
That was the law in Arizona until the Arizona Court of Appeals required a homebuilder to replace defective stucco twelve years after the home was built.
—Christopher A. Combs, AZCentral.com, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defective
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
But other companies that don’t get sued as often for selling defective vehicles, such as Toyota and Honda, opposed the rule change.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 29 Dec. 2025
But other companies that don’t get sued as often for selling defective vehicles, such as Toyota and Honda, opposed the rule change.
—Calmatters, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Dec. 2025
That was the law in Arizona until the Arizona Court of Appeals required a homebuilder to replace defective stucco twelve years after the home was built.
—Christopher A. Combs, AZCentral.com, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defective
Adjective
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The no-cloning theorem has presented a major challenge for quantum researchers, who have sought to overcome it with solutions such as imperfect cloning and probabilistic cloning, which uses the broadcasting of mixed states.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
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In Relationship Goals, his character’s transformation is sincere, but imperfect at times.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Now, but as the statistics and figures come in here in Minneapolis, there's double-digit drops in crime, coupled with a lot of bad people and bad things being taken off of your streets.—
Esme Murphy,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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Under President Biden, the FTC and DOJ slowed large transactions, suggesting that all big businesses were bad businesses.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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To Glover, the Dallas attorney, the need for a case redistribution process is proof the system is flawed.—
Tony Plohetski,
Austin American Statesman,
12 Jan. 2026
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In the past, the US failed due to their flawed planning.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Volvo has recalled more than 400,000 vehicles due to potentially faulty rearview camera displays.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
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So a team historically faulty on special teams, including in critical playoff moments, is now short-handed, too.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Palestinians inspect damaged tents at a displacement camp following an Israeli strike in Gaza City on Friday.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
11 Jan. 2026
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At the same time, the bond-building treatment creates a protective barrier around each strand, helping to restore damaged hair and improve its integrity over time.—
Alyssa Morin,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Dispose of broken or outdated items.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
10 Jan. 2026
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The 41-year-old suffered a broken pelvis and sustained fractures to both femurs and three ribs, as well as a compound fracture to his right shin.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defective. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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