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

Relevance

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
Meta had a rogue agent too Meta confirmed one of its models exploited a security flaw during third-party testing after it was inadvertently given internet access, putting it alongside OpenAI and Anthropic in reporting unexpected agent behavior. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026 The journalist, who has her own complex backstory, has uncovered evidence suggesting there are flaws in Kersten’s version of events and wants to confront him on the facts. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 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
  • But trying to get tanner through more UV light exposure can bring lot of dark, dark risks—such as damaging your skin and in the process raising your risk of skin cancer.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Both human and animal studies found the chemicals damage the ability of mitochondria to make adenosine triphosphate, or ATP.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 7 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
  • The disease can lead to scars or lesions, which may slow or block signals from the brain.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The silky, buildable formula camouflages all things acne scars, dark circles, and other blemishes without looking thick or cakey.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of scar
Verb
  • For the global economy, Russia’s war compromised the global supply chain for fuel and food, exacerbating post-pandemic inflation pressures.
    — Lidia Pilecky, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The district attorney's office declined to prosecute the nearly two dozen remaining cases, with county officials later saying nonprofessionals (Hansen and NBC) compromised the investigation's integrity.
    — Julie Hinds, USA Today, 7 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flaw. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on flaw

Nglish: Translation of flaw for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All