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
Umang Modi, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Even during preparations at Camp David the flaws in the strategy became evident.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
David Lareau, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Since Trump pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 deal that curbed Iran's uranium enrichment activity, deeming the accord deeply flawed, Tehran has accumulated a stockpile of uranium refined to levels close to what would be suitable for nuclear bomb fuel, Reuters reports.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for flaw
Noun
Instead of receiving backlash, they are thanked, and the flaw is corrected before it is rolled out.
—Umang Modi, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Even during preparations at Camp David the flaws in the strategy became evident.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
Verb
If a healthcare organization is building AI initiatives using data from a repository filled with errors or gaps, the resulting output will be flawed.
—David Lareau, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Since Trump pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 deal that curbed Iran's uranium enrichment activity, deeming the accord deeply flawed, Tehran has accumulated a stockpile of uranium refined to levels close to what would be suitable for nuclear bomb fuel, Reuters reports.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for flaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flaw
Noun
-
This doesn’t help since defects cluster and entire batches quietly go rogue while the QA team nods at those green dashboards.—
Raghu Para,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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As more cars rely on advanced software, addressing defects quickly is essential to protect drivers, passengers and pedestrians, and to maintain trust in automotive safety standards.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Anything that damages the trust between the vendor, Microsoft, and the user is as much a threat as the hackers themselves, in my never humble opinion.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
14 July 2025
Noun
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White blotches — the frostbitten tissue — swelled on the roof of his mouth, uvula and throat.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
2 July 2025
-
Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Sure, the game was marred by former commissioner Bud Selig declaring the 2002 edition a tie.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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The production Chosen had early in his career for the New York Jets and then with a 1,000-yard season for the Carolina Panthers in 2020 was marred by two arrests within a year between 2018 and 2019.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
14 July 2025
Noun
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Which Laser Resurfacing Facial Is Best for Collagen? Laser resurfacing helps treat acne, scars, sun damage, and wrinkles.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
17 July 2025
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Those kids don't really realize beneath that Big Blue jersey, there's a big beautiful scar, just a few inches long that subtly defines the life of Kenneth Horsey.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
The Courier-Journal,
17 July 2025
Verb
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By connecting data from disparate systems through a federated graph, enterprises can get a holistic, contextual view of their data landscape without compromising agility, empowering business users with richer insights.—
Rajiv Shesh,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
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Durbin’s letter signals a new phase in congressional oversight of the investigation, shifting focus from demands for disclosure to questions about whether the review process itself has been compromised.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
18 July 2025
Verb
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While Trump suffered a wound when one bullet grazed his ear, others were injured and volunteer firefighter Corey Comperatore died as a result of the shooting.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
13 July 2025
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In recent weeks, WWE has teased some huge feuds for Gunther, including one with Seth Rollins, who was injured on Saturday, that seems unlikely given Rollins’ other rivalries and the fact that both stars are heels.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
Verb
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About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.—
Shira Ovide,
Washington Post,
4 Apr. 2023
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Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.—
Anthony Maluso,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Flaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flaw. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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