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
An early such prototype, worn by Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya at the 2015 Berlin Marathon, infamously malfunctioned during the race, costing him the world record.
—
Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Surprising to me, though perhaps not to neurologists, are friendships that have begun to malfunction due to apparent changes in the brain.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
The thermostats that regulate your water heater's temperature can also malfunction.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 21 Apr. 2026
Fire officials said the initial investigation found oxygen sensors used in the plant's magnesium transfer, which is usually transferred using argon gas to prevent oxygen exposure, may have malfunctioned and the subsequent exposure to oxygen may have caused the explosion.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Surprising to me, though perhaps not to neurologists, are friendships that have begun to malfunction due to apparent changes in the brain.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
The thermostats that regulate your water heater's temperature can also malfunction.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 21 Apr. 2026
Fire officials said the initial investigation found oxygen sensors used in the plant's magnesium transfer, which is usually transferred using argon gas to prevent oxygen exposure, may have malfunctioned and the subsequent exposure to oxygen may have caused the explosion.
—Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malfunction
Verb
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The same regulators failed to pay attention when Prospect sold hospital assets and paid themselves the proceeds, leaving the hospitals finances increasingly precarious.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
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Ugarte previously agreed to a $25,000 settlement with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission over failing to disclose outside income earned through his consulting firm while serving as a City Hall aide to Price.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Hundreds of passengers’ plans were derailed on Wednesday when a train crashed into a tanker truck on Colorado’s Western Slope, damaging the tracks — but not just those on board were affected.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
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However, in the wild, the algae are the ocean’s introverts, and only glow when they are bothered, like jolted by a crashing wave or the hull of a passing boat.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Malfunction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malfunction. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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