as in defective
having a fault
an imperfect representation of the circumstances surrounding Paul Revere's famous ride
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Recent Examples of imperfect
And so Maine voters still have a chance to send a message to the party brass continuing to coalesce around candidates who are not merely imperfect but entitled or unfit.
—
Shannon A. Mullen, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
The calculator is, by necessity, imperfect.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Cottage gardens embrace a natural, imperfect look that feels whimsical and customizable.
—Jane Kim, The Spruce, 30 May 2026
Although dictionaries are imperfect, their definitions are the result of the rigorous study of word meaning and adherence to the scientific process of lexicography, the practice of writing and editing dictionaries and other reference materials.
—Phillip M. Carter, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for imperfect
Shannon A. Mullen, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
The calculator is, by necessity, imperfect.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Cottage gardens embrace a natural, imperfect look that feels whimsical and customizable.
—Jane Kim, The Spruce, 30 May 2026
Although dictionaries are imperfect, their definitions are the result of the rigorous study of word meaning and adherence to the scientific process of lexicography, the practice of writing and editing dictionaries and other reference materials.
—Phillip M. Carter, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for imperfect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperfect
Adjective
-
The defect is specific to 2027 Kia Telluride and Kia Telluride Hybrid models, and no other Kia or Kia Telluride vehicles are equipped with the defective retractor.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
-
Dealers will inspect and repair the defective parts free of charge, according to the recall notice.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Especially defensively, where the Sparks had seemingly been getting worse.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
The festival begins next week for the World Cup, but part of Poplar Drive is already closed, and some neighbors say the closure is making traffic in the area even worse.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
Underneath Carrey’s wild performance, the actor was keen to inject an unlikely slice of empathy into a very flawed character.—
Simon Bland,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
-
Without data that is relatively complete, normalized and updated, AI will present bad information, which can lead to a flawed decision.—
Troy Holaday,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imperfect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperfect. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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