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
Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2025
Critics will point out his many flaws.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 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
The junior leads Baylor with 55 tackles, but his production hasn’t been enough to cover up some of the Bears’ flaws defensively.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2025
Critics will point out his many flaws.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 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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Other higher-risk groups include those with congenital heart defects or disorders, structural heart problems, or a history of coronary artery disease or heart failure.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
20 Oct. 2025
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Berchtold was later acquitted of the kidnapping charges by reason of mental defect.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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An artillery round fired over Interstate 5 at Sunday’s live-fire demonstration at Camp Pendleton prematurely detonated, striking and damaging a California Highway Patrol vehicle that was part of Vice President JD Vance’s detail, the CHP said Sunday.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Oct. 2025
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Thermal runaway, or self-heating, can occur without warning in lithium batteries as a result of various factors, including if the battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged or improperly packed, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Dark brown blotches of varying sizes dot their sides and back.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
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This fungal disease appears as gray blotches on the bark, eventually developing into sunken cankers.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Though his career was marked by flashes of brilliance, including another 1,400-yard rushing season in 2015, it was also marred by injuries and off-field challenges.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
20 Oct. 2025
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But the country’s industrial innovation has also been marred by production overcapacity.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The scars are beautiful and almost aerodynamic.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Oct. 2025
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The twist, so to speak, in Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han’s feature debut, is that the child in question is a Belgian girl growing up in rural Japan in the 1960s — a place filled with countless natural wonders, but also marked by the scars of a major war that haven’t quite healed.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As many Americans are struggling with extremely high medical costs, finding a way of reducing monthly premium costs for plans, while not compromising too significantly on coverage, is an important issue in the health insurance landscape.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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The collared neckline lends the classic sweater a vintage-meets-modern appeal, while its structured shape adds a refined edge without compromising comfort.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Earlier, the agency said a man in his 70s was killed by a falling tree in the southern coastal town of Marigot, while five people were injured in the Artibonite region.—
Josh Cradduck,
NBC news,
24 Oct. 2025
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Unless another boy was injured, a boy with a father who resembled me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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On December 7, 1941, 353 Japanese aircraft attacked Pearl Harbor, killing 2,403 Americans and crippling much of the Pacific Fleet.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Oct. 2025
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Sanctions have crippled the government’s primary source of revenue, oil exports, limiting the state’s ability to provide for millions of impoverished Iranians through social safety nets.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flaw. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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