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
Despite fire officials occasionally issuing landlords orders to comply, the same elevators continue to malfunction repeatedly, the newspaper found.
—
Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Some found out even earlier in the day after their smart mattress tech malfunctioned.
—PC Magazine, 22 Oct. 2025
United Healthcare's provider search tool continued to malfunction throughout Monday.
—Ben Goggin, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2025
A lot can go wrong with a sump pump, from electrical problems to clogs and malfunctioning switches.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Some found out even earlier in the day after their smart mattress tech malfunctioned.
—PC Magazine, 22 Oct. 2025
United Healthcare's provider search tool continued to malfunction throughout Monday.
—Ben Goggin, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2025
A lot can go wrong with a sump pump, from electrical problems to clogs and malfunctioning switches.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malfunction
Verb
-
The Tigers also failed on their lone fourth-down attempt, a fourth-and-5 at the Texas A&M 27.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
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The Horned Frogs outgained Iowa State 432-272, but failed to come out on top as the Cyclones snapped their four-game losing streak.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Police previously said a 2011 Infiniti G37 sedan crashed on the I-30 service road and caught fire.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
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The Edmund Fitzgerald was caught in a savage storm with hurricane-force winds around 100-mile-an-hour and waves up to 60 feet, crashing down on the freighter every four to eight seconds, says Bacon.—
NPR,
NPR,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malfunction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malfunction. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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