as in to fail
to fail to function or work properly
A software problem is causing the system to malfunction.
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Recent Examples of malfunction
On a drizzly Saturday morning late last month, the basement of the New Paltz United Methodist Church filled with old lamps, blunt knives, malfunctioning sound mixers and balky zippers.
—
ABC News, 7 June 2026
Last week, Wallen earned plenty of attention after flipping over a malfunctioning piano.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 June 2026
Iran claimed on Thursday that damage to Kuwait’s airport was caused by a malfunctioning US Patriot missile, contradicting Kuwait’s assertion that an Iranian drone struck the facility a day earlier.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
Wallen made headlines over the weekend after footage of him shoving over a piano which had malfunctioned during his performance in Denver went viral on social media.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
ABC News, 7 June 2026
Last week, Wallen earned plenty of attention after flipping over a malfunctioning piano.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 June 2026
Iran claimed on Thursday that damage to Kuwait’s airport was caused by a malfunctioning US Patriot missile, contradicting Kuwait’s assertion that an Iranian drone struck the facility a day earlier.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
Wallen made headlines over the weekend after footage of him shoving over a piano which had malfunctioned during his performance in Denver went viral on social media.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malfunction
Verb
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With one out in the sixth and Nick Loftin at third, Tolbert twice failed to get down safety-squeeze bunts.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2026
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Ryan Ward scored the winning run after Baltimore catcher Samuel Basallo failed to catch right fielder Tyler O’Neill’s throw to the plate.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Verb
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Edwards Air Force Base officials said the plane that crashed Monday was conducting a routine test mission for its Radar Modernization Program.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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One man died after his vehicle crashed at Truman Road and Bennington Avenue, and investigators believe that man was shot by the same suspect, police said.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Malfunction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malfunction. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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