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
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
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Recent Examples of flaw
Marta Balaga, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
But that dilemma points to a deeper architectural flaw.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
Liyam Chitayat, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
Past attempts at crop substitution failed due to bureaucratic hurdles, missing funds, and flawed agricultural projects.
—Bram Ebus, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flaw
Noun
There seem to be so many singer-songwriters who have the power and the confidence to tell very female, very personal stories through their music, showing their strengths and flaws.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
But that dilemma points to a deeper architectural flaw.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
Although flawed in many ways, the BWC has helped prevent the spread of biological weapons.
—Liyam Chitayat, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2025
Past attempts at crop substitution failed due to bureaucratic hurdles, missing funds, and flawed agricultural projects.
—Bram Ebus, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flaw
Noun
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Scaling these devices into full modules also introduces manufacturing challenges, such as ensuring material uniformity and controlling defects.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Nov. 2025
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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
Verb
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Stay away from windows as flying debris generated by damaging winds can be deadly.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
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According to Brown, Hurricane Michael damaged 80 percent of the park’s namesake trees, but through a project with the Florida Park Service and Atlanta Botanical Garden, seeds obtained from living trees are being grown and planted in the ravine habitat at Torreya State Park.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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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
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The one blemish — or ugly blotch — was that crushing 7-2 Champions League defeat against Paris Saint-Germain last week.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This dynamic marred the 2012-13 Hurricane Sandy package and has recurred in other disaster bills, not because relief is illegitimate but because speed plus political cover invites provisions that would die in regular order.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
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Sook’s comments followed Nexstar’s report of quarterly results, which were marred by the absence of political advertising compared with the same quarter in 2024.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The scars of that era run deep.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
12 Nov. 2025
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The feeling those two summoned in back-to-back Bulls losses were a product of battle scars accrued through years of learning to seize games.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Known for being tough as nails and as reliable as a golden retriever, Toyota says the new all-wheel-drive (AWD) Hilux doesn't compromise on ruggedness.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
10 Nov. 2025
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Edmond de Rothschild Asset management said in a flash commentary that the lingering possibility of negative economic consequences had pushed both sides in Congress to resume talks with a view to compromise.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Across Japan, at least 13 people have been killed and more than 100 injured since April this year, according to government figures – the highest numbers since records began in 2006.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Four students and the Suburban's driver were transported to a local hospital, Murphy said, adding that the bus driver was not injured.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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At the time, the blockades crippled transportation routes and hospital services and prompted international warnings about a humanitarian crisis in the country, which was reeling from a devastating earthquake.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
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Since then, they've been forced to work remotely — at a time when the government was doling out return-to-office mandates — preventing access to labs and crippling the center's mission of embedding NASA climate scientists within international academia.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flaw. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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