as in scars
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 defects
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
january 12, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
The research team attributed their results to how tiny defects, known as dislocations, move when a metal deforms.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
Another pilot program involves using AI to detect defects in the hide, again to avoid waste.
—Emily Chan, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
Look out for recalls Many vehicles get recalled by manufacturers about defects that may be found on the vehicle.
—Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 9 Jan. 2026
Rubella, also called German measles, is mild in children but devastating to fetuses, causing deafness, heart defects and intellectual disabilities when pregnant women are infected.
—Jake Scott, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Rubella, also called German measles, is mild in children but devastating to fetuses, causing deafness, heart defects and intellectual disabilities when pregnant women are infected.
—Jake Scott, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
The filing cites past crashes, including a fatal 2009 FedEx MD-11 crash in Tokyo, and alleges similar design flaws or defects in Boeing’s MD-11 may have caused or contributed to the November 4 crash.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Over 830,000 Peloton Bike+ units have been recalled for seat post defects that can cause falls and injuries.
—Amber Brenza, Health, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
Since the mandate, neural tube defects have dramatically declined in almost every single ethnic population except for Latinos, according to Jaffery.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
january 12, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
The research team attributed their results to how tiny defects, known as dislocations, move when a metal deforms.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
Another pilot program involves using AI to detect defects in the hide, again to avoid waste.
—Emily Chan, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
Look out for recalls Many vehicles get recalled by manufacturers about defects that may be found on the vehicle.
—Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 9 Jan. 2026
Rubella, also called German measles, is mild in children but devastating to fetuses, causing deafness, heart defects and intellectual disabilities when pregnant women are infected.
—Jake Scott, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Rubella, also called German measles, is mild in children but devastating to fetuses, causing deafness, heart defects and intellectual disabilities when pregnant women are infected.
—Jake Scott, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
The filing cites past crashes, including a fatal 2009 FedEx MD-11 crash in Tokyo, and alleges similar design flaws or defects in Boeing’s MD-11 may have caused or contributed to the November 4 crash.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Over 830,000 Peloton Bike+ units have been recalled for seat post defects that can cause falls and injuries.
—Amber Brenza, Health, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defects
Noun
-
Minneapolis is far from alone in navigating high-profile events and bearing scars from multiple tragedies past.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
-
At its most basic, a good one can hide acne scars, redness, and other discoloration.—
Michelle Baricevic,
InStyle,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These blotches are fairly plant friendly and produce what is known as algal leaf spot.—
Brian Bell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Photos show the Maratus australis spider, which has an intricate pattern of blue and brown blotches edged with bright teal and red-orange stripes.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Twelve-year-old Atari (Koyu Rankin) soon journeys there aboard a miniature Junior Turboprop to reunite with his bodyguard pup, Spots (Liev Schreiber).—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Throughout the novel, Barbie journeys to various magical lands to meet with the mysterious beings that control her fate, but her mission gets derailed when she's met with some ugly, unavoidable truths.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Wind turbines are particularly vulnerable to fire caused by lightning strikes or electrical faults.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
-
For Southern California, that means clearer insight into how faults behave between earthquakes.—
Marina Jurica,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Discover Sarasota Tours offers 90-minute trolley tours multiple times a day that acquaint visitors with the city’s layout, history, neighborhoods, and many popular attractions.—
Jacqueline Dole,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The Atlantic Vice President JD Vance tours the US military's Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on March 28, 2025.—
Caroline Linton,
CBS News,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
There have even been flaws in the usually flawless background Play System updates.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
These are the flaws that make the magic.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Boat trips with the hotel’s fleet of luxury liners or a heli ride take you island-hopping to Hydra and Spetses.—
Jemima Sissons,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Shoelaces are scanned to ensure that no player trips and breaks bones.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Morgan Wallen Has Reached This Milestone Before In both instances, One Thing at a Time marks Wallen’s third release to make it to 150 weeks.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Measures that fail would have to be refiled next year, as 2026 marks the last year of the 60th Oklahoma Legislature.—
Keaton Ross,
Oklahoma Watch,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defects. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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