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
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Recent Examples of flaw
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
While not without its flaws, this system currently ranks Arsenal as the best team in the world — a status that is difficult to argue against, given their performances at home and abroad under Arteta this season.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Fennell chooses the former, and flawed or not, this drunk-on-pheromones take is all the better for it.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flaw
Noun
But one of the key flaws of Drew Goddard’s screenplay is that once Ryland is on the ship, that neurotic aspect of him isn’t sustained.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
While not without its flaws, this system currently ranks Arsenal as the best team in the world — a status that is difficult to argue against, given their performances at home and abroad under Arteta this season.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
The authors also said the findings produced by AI are only as good as the data used, which could be flawed.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Fennell chooses the former, and flawed or not, this drunk-on-pheromones take is all the better for it.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flaw
Noun
-
Ford estimates that all of these vehicles have the defects.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
My companion must be of the same species, and have the same defects.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bahrain and Qatar have effectively halted production of oil and LNG, keeping output at a trickle to avoid complete shutdowns that could damage reservoirs and delay restarts.—
Amena Bakr,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
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Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Her zapping turns her entire head of hair — not just a streak — shocking white à la Jean Harlow, and leaves an oddly-appealing black blotch on her cheek.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Its purple black center was surrounded by blotches of varying shades and textures, raised or sunken at places.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The issue, which can arise within minutes, is that no matter how careful, how neurotic, how cautious someone is, inevitably the shiny piano black plastic trim gets scratched, knicked, and or marred rapidly as a car is used.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
5 Mar. 2026
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The Democratic contest was marred by voting issues affecting the state’s second-largest county, which caused confusion around ballot eligibility.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Nicholas fully recovered and is about to turn 18, his father said, but still has physical scars.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Also, our editors rounded up the most effective over-the-counter products for fading scars.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Police have asked the government not to release files that could compromise their criminal investigation into Mandelson.—
JILL LAWLESS AND BRIAN MELLEY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
-
These shoes are great for travelers who want easy slip-on convenience without compromising on their style.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The conflict has also claimed the lives of seven US soldiers and injured about 140 American troops.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
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At least six people were killed and several others were injured after a passenger bus caught fire Tuesday in western Switzerland, authorities said.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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By controlling Gaza’s land, air and sea access, Israel has crippled its economy and infrastructure.—
Ken Barnes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Perched between China and India, the country of 30 million people has been plagued for decades by political instability, crippling a largely agrarian economy and worsening unemployment – structural issues compounded by rampant corruption.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flaw. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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