defective

adjective

di-ˈfek-tiv How to pronounce defective (audio)
Definition of defectivenext
as in imperfect
having a fault promptly took the defective microwave oven back to the store for a replacement

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 If the report is so defective that nobody should rely on it, release it alongside the state’s criticisms and let lawmakers, journalists, insurance experts and Floridians examine both. — Matthew T. Christ, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026 Recent court cases have used similar arguments, framing social media to judges and jurors as defective products causing children harm. — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 Trump’s successors will need to salvage his defective effort to help guide this transition. — Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026 How the defective-candidate issue plays out may be especially telling in the battle for Senate control, with Democrats needing a four-seat pickup. — Josh Kraushaar, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for defective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defective
  1. imperfect
  2. bad
  3. flawed
  4. faulty
  5. damaged
  6. broken
Adjective
  • As for glam and accessories, the actress went minimalist and continued to sport her hair in a perfectly imperfect bun.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 Nov. 2026
  • In an Instagram video, Webb claimed to see parallels between the two brands’ ethos of being imperfect and, obviously, messy.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of imperfect
Adjective
  • One option for overhauling the committee, according to people familiar with the situation, is broadening its focus beyond China to explore issues related to other bad foreign actors.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Phillips caught a bad break when her approach to the green hit a tree branch on its upward flight and dropped 20 yards short of the green.
    — Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of bad
Adjective
  • But the party was wrecked on Election Day not by its flawed attorney general.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Throughout his time in the governor’s office, DeSantis has abused special sessions to force rushed and often deceitful debate (including the two days of meetings that produced the badly flawed Amendment 3 in the first place).
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of flawed
Adjective
  • But the ship was rusted and its engine and generators faulty, Khan said.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
  • But sadly for the multi trillion dollar company, some of the larger, inner screens on its $2,000-plus devices are already cracking, and early postmortems point to their faulty hinge design.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of faulty
Adjective
  • The Russian missiles that hit overnight across the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, damaged homes and commercial properties, triggering new power and water outages, national and city authorities said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Russian attacks target Ukrainian infrastructure The Russian missiles that hit overnight across the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, damaged homes and commercial properties, triggering new power and water outages, national and city authorities said.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of damaged
Adjective
  • The Hilltoppers recently got a boost to their secondary when star senior cornerback Bryce Ellens returned from a broken collarbone.
    — Harris Horowitz, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
  • His weary voice, describing with sympathy what this solitary, hungry rover is going through, details a broken relationship between human and beast, but more keenly and traumatically, between humans and humans.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of broken

Browse Nearby Words

defections
defective
defectively
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Cite this Entry

“Defective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defective. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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