Synonyms of malfunction

malfunction

verb

as in to fail

to fail to function or work properly

A software problem is causing the system to malfunction.

Related Words

• fail
• crash
• die
• act up
• stall
• cut out
• break down
• give out
• break
• sputter
• fizzle
• jam
• conk (out)
• wheeze

Dissimilar Words

• start (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of malfunction

Since the animatronic shark frequently malfunctioned on set, Jaws was forced to merely suggest the creature’s foreboding presence with ominous first-person camerawork instead of showing the killer up close. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026

But reports suggest initial enrollment takes longer, and has been slowed down by malfunctioning equipment, technical bugs, insufficient personnel, and inconsistent implementation across crossings. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 12 Aug. 2026

Park staff told inspectors that the water-recirculation equipment had recently been changed and that the pool filter was malfunctioning and leaking. — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026

Some medications, such as an inhaler, may malfunction when left in a hot car for extended periods, Bell adds. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 9 Aug. 2026