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
Those alterations include adjustments to a component called a fuel diffuser, which the company believes malfunctioned during the last flight, causing higher-than-expected pressure to build up in Starship’s nose cone.
—
Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2025
The Maricopa County medical examiner commonly finds that people who die in their homes had malfunctioning air conditioners.
—Catherine Reagor, AZCentral.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Thousands of fragments orbit Earth, left behind by collisions, missile tests, and malfunctioning spacecraft.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2025
Katie and her delightfully dysfunctional family, voiced by Danny McBride and Maya Rudolph, plus two malfunctioning robots who join their quest, voiced by Fred Armisen and Beck Bennett.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2025
The Maricopa County medical examiner commonly finds that people who die in their homes had malfunctioning air conditioners.
—Catherine Reagor, AZCentral.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Thousands of fragments orbit Earth, left behind by collisions, missile tests, and malfunctioning spacecraft.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2025
Katie and her delightfully dysfunctional family, voiced by Danny McBride and Maya Rudolph, plus two malfunctioning robots who join their quest, voiced by Fred Armisen and Beck Bennett.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malfunction
Verb
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The panel studying those cases released a report last year describing how the state child welfare agency missed warning signs and failed to protect dozens of children from dying of the illicit drug.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
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Ultimately, the Bundys and five others were acquitted of all charges after jurors said prosecutors failed to prove their intent.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Cause of crash is being investigated Videos of the accident show the carriage toppled to its side and crashed into a building on the steep and narrow street, with parts of the streetcar crumpled.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
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The sides and top of the car were damaged, and the car appeared to have crashed into a building where the road bends.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malfunction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malfunction. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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