as in failed
to fail to function or work properly
A software problem is causing the system to malfunction.
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Recent Examples of malfunctioned
Orion’s toilet malfunctioned as soon as the Artemis crew reached orbit Wednesday evening.
—
Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Crocker was left wondering why his defense, which had been so good for so long, had malfunctioned.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
In 2021, an animatronic figure of Abraham Lincoln malfunctioned during a performance of Disney World’s Hall of Presidents at the Magic Kingdom.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Other video from key hours around Epstein’s death, which would have shown the tier with his cell, was not available because the jail’s video recording system malfunctioned.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
Following the incident, Haidilao confirmed the event in a statement to NBC News but rejected claims that the robot had malfunctioned.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 20 Mar. 2026
One morning last April, Arenas was driving home from the gym when his Tesla Cybertruck malfunctioned, crashed into a tree and burst into flames, briefly trapping him inside.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
After the fatal shot was fired, the gun malfunctioned because a shell casing became lodged in the chamber, officials said.
—Sheetal Banchariya, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
The meeting comes after Amazon’s online store malfunctioned for some users last week.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Crocker was left wondering why his defense, which had been so good for so long, had malfunctioned.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
In 2021, an animatronic figure of Abraham Lincoln malfunctioned during a performance of Disney World’s Hall of Presidents at the Magic Kingdom.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Other video from key hours around Epstein’s death, which would have shown the tier with his cell, was not available because the jail’s video recording system malfunctioned.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
Following the incident, Haidilao confirmed the event in a statement to NBC News but rejected claims that the robot had malfunctioned.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 20 Mar. 2026
One morning last April, Arenas was driving home from the gym when his Tesla Cybertruck malfunctioned, crashed into a tree and burst into flames, briefly trapping him inside.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
After the fatal shot was fired, the gun malfunctioned because a shell casing became lodged in the chamber, officials said.
—Sheetal Banchariya, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2026
The meeting comes after Amazon’s online store malfunctioned for some users last week.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malfunctioned
Verb
-
Parker said a subcontractor working at the parking garage was in the process of installing precast concrete flooring, decking and roofing segments, and one of them failed.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The implication is that she got distracted and failed to notice the most important things.—
Brandy Jensen,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The suspect, later identified as Dylan Charles-Edward Wallace, 28, of Superior, reportedly fled the scene in a vehicle and crashed into the doors of Superior Middle School.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The chase ended when Dennis crashed into a barrier wall near Northwest 31st Avenue and Northwest Second Street in Lauderhill, the police department said.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Malfunctioned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malfunctioned. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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