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

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

Inside the messy lab, malfunctioning doors are the first obstacle. — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Deaths apparently caused by malfunctioning or inaccessible doorhandles, have led to regulatory changes in China, prompting the widespread recalls involving nine automakers. — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 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

Construction workers clung to a malfunctioning crane Friday as its arm collapsed onto the pool deck of a neighboring luxury high-rise in Miami, video shot by a bystander showed. — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 11 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