flaw 1 of 2

noun

ˈflȯ How to pronounce flaw (audio)
Definition of flawnext
as in defect
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing noted the flaw in the diamond before I bought it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flaw

2 of 2

verb

as in to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of that crack has flawed the vase to the extent that its value in the antiques market is greatly reduced

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 flaw
Noun
But even when such flaws let the story down, the lovely ensemble never does. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 Dyson's point of view was that the existing products had a fundamental engineering flaw nobody had bothered to fix. — Andy Nguyen, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
Meanwhile, many of Montana’s landowners consider the entire discussion flawed, because corner-crossers could upset a precarious balance between agricultural producers and sportsmen. — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026 Yet, that decision was quickly challenged by neighbors, who worried about the disruptive noise from these concerts and argued that San Jose’s environmental process was flawed. — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for flaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flaw
  1. defect
  2. damage
  3. blotch
  4. mar
  5. scar
  6. compromise
  7. injure
  8. cripple
Noun
  • Because automation was tied to worker empowerment rather than displacement, factory workers actively partnered with engineers to optimize the robots, resulting in defect rates lower than those of their American competitors.
    — Jason Dressel, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The company’s engineering team found that the defect was tied to a design weakness.
    — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of defect
Verb
  • Hundreds of buildings — hotels, apartment blocks, mixed-use structures — collapsed or were damaged beyond repair.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • If Chinese inventories become one of the last lines of defense against damaging global price spikes, Beijing may come to occupy a comparable position.
    — Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of damage
Noun
  • The next morning, a galaxy of itchy red bumps and blotches stretched from my shoulder to my hip.
    — Ben Crair, New Yorker, 31 July 2026
  • Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026
Definition of blotch
Verb
  • Just a week after heat and severe storms marred July Fourth celebrations, a heat dome trapped more of the country under relentless warmth and humidity.
    — Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Following a 2024 general election marred by allegations of widespread vote-rigging, the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has struggled to build momentum.
    — Hasan Ali, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of mar
Noun
  • On Sunday, storms brought dangerous flash flooding to the area around the Aspen Acres burn scar.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Alexa Frank thought the small, pink, flaky spot on her nose was an acne scar or eczema, a condition that causes dry, itchy skin.
    — Lindsey Bever, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of scar
Verb
  • Escalating threats in the Red Sea could compromise the Saudi pipeline that has been essential in mitigating the Hormuz crisis.
    — Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
  • These thermal gradients generate stresses that may crack or spall – chip or flake off – the outer surface, but the heat often does not penetrate deeply enough to compromise the structural core.
    — Giorgia Giardina, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of compromise
Verb
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of using North Korean ballistic missiles in its attacks, as another night of bombardment killed at least nine civilians and injured dozens of others.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Chamapuro added that one person in the community was injured, and called on authorities to send food and medicine.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of injure
Verb
  • Strikes over unpaid salaries, violent attacks on clinics and public mistrust fueled by misinformation are crippling fragile response efforts, as workers like Bondele keep showing up.
    — Prosper Heri Ngorora, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Over the years this bag has crippled numerous hotel bellmen attempting to lift it.
    — John Ficarra, New York Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of cripple

Browse Nearby Words

flavorsome
flaw
flawed
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Cite this Entry

“Flaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flaw. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of flaw for Spanish Speakers

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