as in imperfect
having a fault
promptly took the defective microwave oven back to the store for a replacement
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Example 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.
—
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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Now that order is dead, along with other imperfect remnants of a less chaotic time, like the soft power America built with foreign aid and democratic ideals.—
Michelle Goldberg,
The Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2025
-
The researchers believe these findings could one day lead to the development of biological tooth substitutes that could be used in place of imperfect synthetic dental implants currently used.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The weather was bad enough that MassDOT dropped the speed limit on the pike and forbid tandem trucks from the road.—
Matthew Medsger,
Boston Herald,
17 Feb. 2025
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There have been worse trades than the one that sent Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, along with Max Christie and a future first-round draft pick.—
Louisa Thomas,
The New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Excellence is achievable, but perfection is flawed thinking, impossible to attain.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
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Pasteur coolly replied that Pouchet’s spontaneous generation experiments were fatally flawed.—
Carl Zimmer,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The affected coolers have a faulty tow handle which can pinch and crush users' fingers against the body of the cooler.—
Julia Landwehr,
Health,
15 Feb. 2025
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Listen to this article San Diego is paying out $450,000 to settle an age discrimination lawsuit filed by a former deputy fire chief and a claim that faulty asphalt at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in Kearny Mesa damaged a plane.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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There is a broken down vehicle on I-70 from I-435/Exit 8 to Blue Ridge Cut Off/Exit 9.—
Kansas City Star Bot,
Kansas City Star,
14 Feb. 2025
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One of the thieves reaches into the immobilized victim’s broken window and snatches a bag containing $20,000 before the duo jumps back into the Mercedes and speeds off.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near defective
Cite this Entry
“Defective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defective. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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