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
Harrington's sump pump had malfunctioned, failing to push rising waters back outside.
—
Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Distribution lines in Altadena malfunctioned before a fire started on transmission lines near Eaton Canyon.
—Chiara Eisner, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
Talk on the internet veered toward some malfunctioning collars, but, overall, the look was sharp.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2025
Initial investigations by both Universal and state regulators indicate the ride did not malfunction.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Distribution lines in Altadena malfunctioned before a fire started on transmission lines near Eaton Canyon.
—Chiara Eisner, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
Talk on the internet veered toward some malfunctioning collars, but, overall, the look was sharp.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2025
Initial investigations by both Universal and state regulators indicate the ride did not malfunction.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malfunction
Verb
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Still down 20-17, the Razorbacks failed on fourth-and-5 from the Tennessee 25 later in the third quarter, and quarterback Taylen Green lost his second fumble of the game early in the fourth at the Arkansas 19.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Oct. 2025
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The following year, several lawmakers were accused of failing to report income or disclose kickbacks, deepening public frustration.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Their flight lasted less than a minute before crashing roughly a quarter-mile from the hospital’s helicopter pad.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
10 Oct. 2025
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Minott crashed the glass and dished a couple of fast-break assists.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malfunction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malfunction. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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