malfunctions

present tense third-person singular of malfunction
as in fails
to fail to function or work properly A software problem is causing the system to malfunction.

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for malfunctions
Verb
  • Tapping into the sporting zeitgeist, the slapstick animation, sees Daffy Duck confounded when Elmer Fudd fails to turn up for duck hunting season.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 22 June 2026
  • An extended car warranty can save electric vehicle (EV) owners thousands of dollars when a critical component, such as an electric motor or battery management system, fails unexpectedly.
    Emily Mercer, USA Today, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • The theory is that once a critical part fails, the drone crashes.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 20 June 2026
  • When the team crashes, the leader was steering.
    Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Malfunctions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malfunctions. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

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