as in imperfect
having a fault
promptly took the defective microwave oven back to the store for a replacement
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of defective
The first trial in one of the largest U.S. mass torts ever kicks off Monday with 3M defending itself against claims that its Combat Arms earplugs were knowingly defective, harming the hearing of tens of thousands of soldiers.
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Mike Hughlett, Star Tribune, 28 Mar. 2021
The hope is that this approach will provide new olfactory receptor neurons for people whose own have been permanently damaged or defective since birth.
—Emma Young, Discover Magazine, 3 Aug. 2015
Overheated or defective batteries can catch fire or even explode, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2023
Those factories could provide the recyclers with a great deal of defective or excess battery material, particularly in their early years.
—Kellen Browning, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for defective 
Mike Hughlett, Star Tribune, 28 Mar. 2021
The hope is that this approach will provide new olfactory receptor neurons for people whose own have been permanently damaged or defective since birth.
—Emma Young, Discover Magazine, 3 Aug. 2015
Overheated or defective batteries can catch fire or even explode, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2023
Those factories could provide the recyclers with a great deal of defective or excess battery material, particularly in their early years.
—Kellen Browning, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for defective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defective
Adjective
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Her Millie is imperfect, damaged and human, not to mention quite adroit at code switching with her accent and vernacular.Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024
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The Pax Americana was ever imperfect and to many people in the world, from Vietnam to Iraq, smacked of hypocrisy.Andreas Kluth, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Zach Wilson’s younger brother settled in as the game progressed, but then threw a bad INT in the fourth to end Utah’s comeback attempt.Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
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Dilettante listing brokers can also cost sellers with bad marketing, weird staging, and a lack of responsiveness.Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The first flawed assumption was that there were further inroads to be made with Republicans who are uncomfortable with Trump.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
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In fact, the original research that linked autism to vaccines was flawed and was subsequently retracted, and no current research has shown a positive link or correlation between vaccines and autism.Omer Awan, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Allegations of miscounts, court debates and logistical voting issues, including a faulty ballot design, were to blame for the delay.Katie Wiseman, The Courier-Journal, 6 Nov. 2024
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The agency suspected that the engines had a faulty valvetrain but Ford assessed that not all valves within the spike period are defective and that reported failures occurred in vehicles with low time in service, according to the report.James Powel, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Without breaking stride, Hunter blew past four more Utah defenders and hopped into the end zone, a broken play transformed into a work of art.Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
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De Menezes was on his way to repair a broken fire alarm when he was shot and killed in an underground carriage at Stockwell station.Irenie Forshaw, theweek, 12 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near defective
Cite this Entry
“Defective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defective. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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