as in malfunctioning
not being in working order
the Ferris wheel is nonfunctioning at the moment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of nonfunctioning
Drivers say their contract issues center on pay as well as safety issues, including nonfunctioning heaters, loudspeakers and windshield wipers.
—
Zaz Hollander, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Feb. 2023
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.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 30 Jan. 2023
Donald and Jaylen Brown appear to be the only announced clients of Donda Sports, which has a nonfunctioning website and an Instagram account with over 279,000 followers and no posts.
—Greg Beacham, ajc, 26 Oct. 2022
Donald and Jaylen Brown appear to be the only announced clients of Donda Sports, which has a nonfunctioning website and an Instagram account with more than 279,000 followers and no posts.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 25 Oct. 2022
Demings, whose four decades of public service include leading the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Orlando Police Department, said intersections with nonfunctioning signals become four-way stops.
—Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel, 30 Sep. 2022
On the last Saturday of September, keeping the culture looked like Carter working in conjunction with members of her community to host a dinner under the stars on a nonfunctioning farm.
—Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2021
Usually the nonfunctioning kidneys are left in place and the healthy kidney is surgically attached in a different location.
—Julie Washington, cleveland, 13 July 2021
Water has also emerged as a major problem, with almost 7 million Texans under a boil water advisory, and about 263,000 people affected by nonfunctioning water providers.
—Maria Jimenez Moya, Star Tribune, 18 Feb. 2021
Zaz Hollander, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Feb. 2023
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.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 30 Jan. 2023
Donald and Jaylen Brown appear to be the only announced clients of Donda Sports, which has a nonfunctioning website and an Instagram account with over 279,000 followers and no posts.
—Greg Beacham, ajc, 26 Oct. 2022
Donald and Jaylen Brown appear to be the only announced clients of Donda Sports, which has a nonfunctioning website and an Instagram account with more than 279,000 followers and no posts.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 25 Oct. 2022
Demings, whose four decades of public service include leading the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Orlando Police Department, said intersections with nonfunctioning signals become four-way stops.
—Stephen Hudak, Orlando Sentinel, 30 Sep. 2022
On the last Saturday of September, keeping the culture looked like Carter working in conjunction with members of her community to host a dinner under the stars on a nonfunctioning farm.
—Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2021
Usually the nonfunctioning kidneys are left in place and the healthy kidney is surgically attached in a different location.
—Julie Washington, cleveland, 13 July 2021
Water has also emerged as a major problem, with almost 7 million Texans under a boil water advisory, and about 263,000 people affected by nonfunctioning water providers.
—Maria Jimenez Moya, Star Tribune, 18 Feb. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonfunctioning
Adjective
-
When heading out to look for lamps, take a lightbulb along to test them in-store, but also consider rewiring nonfunctional pieces.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Lutnick was about to fly to London for a round of trade negotiations with China, whose restrictions on the sale of rare-earth metals were threatening to render parts of the American economy nonfunctional.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
Jane Clair has seen the way a broken legacy can cause strife within a family.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
While some airports get a bad reputation for long security lines, expensive food options, broken outlets, and less-than-comfortable gate seating, there are a handful that deserve their flowers.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Springer transformed from payroll anchor to potential down-ballot MVP candidate.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Season 4 ended on a bit of a down note, with a major character death, and lots of family trouble for River Cartwright to navigate.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
These instances will be limited to unsafe or inoperable vehicles, which cannot be physically driven to the inspection location.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Inflation started to take off on the heels of the new framework taking effect and eventually reached a four-decade peak in 2022, rendering the strategy inoperable.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Also inoperative the morning of the crash were the runway alignment indicator lights, which had not worked for more than three years.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 June 2025
-
But India, citing national security concerns, has publicly provided little evidence linking the attack to Pakistan, which denies involvement and says that Lashkar-e-Taiba is largely inoperative.—
Zia ur-Rehman,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nonfunctioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonfunctioning. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share