as in down
not being in working order
a malfunctioning computer cost us days of work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in failing
to fail to function or work properly
A software problem is causing the system to malfunction.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of malfunctioning
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
Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem — a malfunctioning space toilet.
—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
The handwash sink next to the restrooms and kitchen had a malfunctioning soap dispenser.
—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Often, the easiest solution to fix a malfunctioning attack is to change the striker.
—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
There's also the scenario where the user experience just isn't great, whether that's subpar customer service or a malfunctioning app.
—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Over 1,000 sanitation workers went on strike after two workers were crushed by a malfunctioning garbage truck — a tragic incident in a history of city neglect of Black workers.
—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
Elk Creek Fire An initial investigation into the fire indicates it was caused in part by a malfunctioning gas generator and also high winds.
—
Jesse Sarles,
CBS News,
18 Dec. 2025
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
On a drizzly Saturday morning late last month, the basement of the New Paltz United Methodist Church filled with old lamps, blunt knives, malfunctioning sound mixers and balky zippers.
—
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Last week, Wallen earned plenty of attention after flipping over a malfunctioning piano.
—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 June 2026
Iran claimed on Thursday that damage to Kuwait’s airport was caused by a malfunctioning US Patriot missile, contradicting Kuwait’s assertion that an Iranian drone struck the facility a day earlier.
—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
The filings came after a malfunctioning storage tank containing volatile, flammable methyl methacrylate prompted evacuation orders across parts of Garden Grove and nearby cities amid fears of a catastrophic explosion.
—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
The company thought the device was malfunctioning and sent him a replacement.
—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 May 2026
The Waffle House waitress said the building’s management was inattentive to a raft of deeper issues, from sewage backups that crept into her bathtub to mold and a malfunctioning air conditioning unit.
—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
27 May 2026
The rollout has drawn scrutiny over traffic disruptions, safety investigations and incidents involving stalled or malfunctioning vehicles, while also heightening anxiety among some ride-hailing drivers about the future of their jobs.
—
Leah Willingham,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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
Despite the accomplishments, Artemis II astronauts had to contend with a more mundane problem — a malfunctioning space toilet.
—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
The handwash sink next to the restrooms and kitchen had a malfunctioning soap dispenser.
—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Often, the easiest solution to fix a malfunctioning attack is to change the striker.
—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
There's also the scenario where the user experience just isn't great, whether that's subpar customer service or a malfunctioning app.
—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Over 1,000 sanitation workers went on strike after two workers were crushed by a malfunctioning garbage truck — a tragic incident in a history of city neglect of Black workers.
—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
Elk Creek Fire An initial investigation into the fire indicates it was caused in part by a malfunctioning gas generator and also high winds.
—
Jesse Sarles,
CBS News,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
Catherine Lane/Getty Images Few household problems create more frustrations or more sticker shock than a malfunctioning air conditioner.
—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
On a drizzly Saturday morning late last month, the basement of the New Paltz United Methodist Church filled with old lamps, blunt knives, malfunctioning sound mixers and balky zippers.
—
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Last week, Wallen earned plenty of attention after flipping over a malfunctioning piano.
—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 June 2026
Iran claimed on Thursday that damage to Kuwait’s airport was caused by a malfunctioning US Patriot missile, contradicting Kuwait’s assertion that an Iranian drone struck the facility a day earlier.
—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
The filings came after a malfunctioning storage tank containing volatile, flammable methyl methacrylate prompted evacuation orders across parts of Garden Grove and nearby cities amid fears of a catastrophic explosion.
—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
The company thought the device was malfunctioning and sent him a replacement.
—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 May 2026
The Waffle House waitress said the building’s management was inattentive to a raft of deeper issues, from sewage backups that crept into her bathtub to mold and a malfunctioning air conditioning unit.
—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
27 May 2026
The rollout has drawn scrutiny over traffic disruptions, safety investigations and incidents involving stalled or malfunctioning vehicles, while also heightening anxiety among some ride-hailing drivers about the future of their jobs.
—
Leah Willingham,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malfunctioning
Adjective
-
That down year is not necessarily an indication of Jefferson as a talent.
-
The down alternative also keeps you supportive and cool all night long.
Verb
-
After failing to score with the bases loaded in the third, the Angels pulled away with four runs in the sixth.
-
The lower-than-normal system voltage from a weak battery, failing alternator, slipping belt or poor electrical connection can affect the electric power steering system.
Adjective
-
Drivers say their contract issues center on pay as well as safety issues, including nonfunctioning heaters, loudspeakers and windshield wipers.
-
In 2020, the state of Virginia passed some bills limiting pretextual traffic stops—for example, when police spot nonfunctioning brake or tail lights or hear an overly loud exhaust system.
Verb
-
As the aircraft approached Atlantic City, a portion of one of the main rotor blades separated, the NTSB report showed, tearing the transmission and rotor apart and sending the helicopter crashing onto the Garden State Parkway.
-
With how important the possession battle is in today’s NBA and how important crashing the glass is on both ends, Steinbach is worth a first-round pick.
Adjective
-
Canada’s first-ever World Cup win was overshadowed yesterday when midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg after a tackle that left teammates shaken and coach Jesse Marsch lamenting an injury that turned a night of celebration into one of anguish.
-
But the win was a costly one since Canada, which entered the tournament missing three starters to injury, lost another early in the second half when midfielder Ismael Kone was carted off on a stretcher with an apparent broken leg after Qatar’s Assim Madibo clipped him from behind.
Adjective
-
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said drivers should treat intersections with nonfunctional traffic signals as a four-way stop.
-
Critics alleged inhumane conditions, including poor food, nonfunctional toilets and a lack of access to attorneys.
Adjective
-
If the main engines were to become inoperative, six smaller orbit-control thrusters can still be activated on the lunar surface, providing an alternative pathway for a rapid ascent.
-
And there’s been plenty of media focus since then — including on inoperative toilets.
Adjective
-
In the New Century AirCenter crash, the Kansas Highway Patrol said a mechanical malfunction caused the left engine of the plane to become inoperable.
-
The resulting flooding rendered the antenna inoperable.
Cite this Entry
“Malfunctioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malfunctioning. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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