Synonyms of malfunctioning

malfunctioning 1 of 2

adjective

as in down

not being in working order

a malfunctioning computer cost us days of work

Synonyms & Similar Words

• down
• nonfunctioning
• broken
• nonfunctional
• inoperative
• inoperable
• out of commission
• off
• haywire
• nonoperating
• useless
• on the fritz
• kaput
• on the blink
• unusable
• ineffective
• deactivated
• unworkable
• ineffectual
• unproductive
• deadlocked
• nonproductive

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• operating
• functioning
• operational
• functional
• operative
• working
• running
• effective
• useful
• operable
• producing
• viable
• operant
• usable
• productive
• serving
• workable
• effectual
• performing
• employable

malfunctioning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of malfunction

as in failing

to fail to function or work properly

A software problem is causing the system to malfunction.

Related Words

• failing
• crashing
• dying
• stalling
• acting up
• cutting out
• sputtering
• breaking down
• giving out
• wheezing
• breaking
• jamming
• fizzling
• conking (out)

Dissimilar Words

• starting (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of malfunctioning

Adjective

Riders had to evacuate its log ride on seven separate occasions because of issues such as boats colliding or becoming jammed and smoke coming from a malfunctioning part of the ride. — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026

Homeowners reported a swift meeting at which officers discussed a reorganization of their specific duties and the hiring of an elevator expert to fix the chronically malfunctioning, overloaded elevators. — Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026

Watching the first episode of Ultimate Girl’s Trip is like riding in a malfunctioning time machine. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Nuggets, wings, manchurian mix, lentils and chicken were stored above proper holding temperatures in a malfunctioning refrigerator unit. — Vince Basada august 7, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Edmiston arrived on a separate boat to help the group with the malfunctioning vessel, and denies having any role in Wells’ death, his family said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026

Oen Sujet’s catalog sounds equally like the product of a random number generator or a malfunctioning algorithm as of a deeply mercurial artist. — Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 24 July 2026

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has opened an investigation into the owner of a malfunctioning chemical storage tank in Garden Grove that has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents as fire crews race to avoid an explosion. — Sean Emery, Oc Register, 24 May 2026

Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem -- a malfunctioning space toilet. — Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2026

Verb

One group was clustered around a machine that seemed to be malfunctioning. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2026

Online influencers supportive of the Republican Party and some officials saw an opportunity in the malfunctioning machines and polling location closures, framing them as a conspiracy against party candidates. — Jane Lytvynenko, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2026

Refrigeration systems have been malfunctioning Monday in Belgium, Sweden, Ireland, The Netherlands and Estonia, officials from affected companies told ABC News and local public broadcasters. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

But residents say the stream of Airbnb guests in and out of their lobby, around their swimming pools and up and down on the overtaxed, malfunctioning elevators has not abated. — Linda Robertson updated October 22, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026

Those obstacles were plentiful on the set, since the Rocky puppet was often breaking or malfunctioning. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026

Thomas drives away with a limp, malfunctioning Vision next to him, and an illusory, wisecracking Ultron in the back seat. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026

One room of it has recently been converted into a studio of sorts for her partner Mehmet (Metin Akdülger), an experimental musician who is as likely to want to record the sound of a malfunctioning kitchen appliance as to fix it. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

But helium leaks and malfunctioning thrusters raised safety concerns, leading NASA to decide Williams and Wilmore could not return to Earth onboard Calypso. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2026