dysfunctional
adjective
dys·func·tion·al
(ˌ)dis-ˈfəŋ(k)-sh(ə-)nəl 
: characterized by or exhibiting dysfunction: such as
a
: not functioning properly : marked by impaired or abnormal functioning
With 180,000 employees and a $43 billion budget, the department is a collage of 22 distinct government agencies drawn from different corners of the federal organization chart and glued together into a single, largely dysfunctional unit.—
Paul C. Light
Paul C. LightThis form of anemia develops because the bone marrow is not producing new cells rapidly enough to replace old cells that have become destroyed or otherwise dysfunctional.—Tom Ewing
Tom EwingThis led to a dysfunctional credit market that in important respects soon turned non-functional.—Warren E. Buffett
Warren E. Buffett
b
: characterized by abnormal or unhealthy interpersonal behavior or interaction
dysfunctional relationships
As with any dysfunctional family, it may take an outsider to get a clear picture of the situation.—Chris Mooney
Chris Mooney
Did you know?
Dysfunctional and dysfunction have been used for almost a hundred years, often in medical writing ("brain dysfunction", "a dysfunctional liver") but also by social scientists ("a dysfunctional city council", "diplomatic dysfunction"). But they only really entered the general vocabulary in the 1980s, when therapists and talk-show hosts began talking about dysfunctional families. The signs of family dysfunction turned out to be numerous, and it soon began to seem as if pretty much all our families could be called dysfunctional.
Examples of dysfunctional in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On June 3, the state Legislature approved a state constitutional amendment to permit New York to redraw its congressional map and overhaul a dysfunctional redistricting process.
—Jeffrey M. Wice, New York Daily News, 16 June 2026
That timeline highlights the rail project’s dysfunctional bureaucracy.
—Baruch Feigenbaum, Oc Register, 15 June 2026
Many dysfunctional leadership teams are composed of highly capable people.
—Britton Bloch, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
There’s moments where the audience does question her, but Rachel is ultimately a reliable narrator in the story, albeit the most paranoid and dysfunctional one.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dysfunctional
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Jeffrey M. Wice, New York Daily News, 16 June 2026
That timeline highlights the rail project’s dysfunctional bureaucracy.
—Baruch Feigenbaum, Oc Register, 15 June 2026
Many dysfunctional leadership teams are composed of highly capable people.
—Britton Bloch, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
There’s moments where the audience does question her, but Rachel is ultimately a reliable narrator in the story, albeit the most paranoid and dysfunctional one.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dysfunctional
Cite this Entry
“Dysfunctional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dysfunctional. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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