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
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As tensions and secrets, erupt under one roof, Alice must navigate her dysfunctional family and a dangerously compelling outsider to claim what’s at stake.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
This is through no fault of his own, though, as the Auburn quarterback room was, at best, dysfunctional throughout his time on campus.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
And the aftermath has been chaotic and dysfunctional.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026
His parents’ dysfunctional relationships made for an unsafe environment at home, so the decision was made to send him to the Caribbean nation to stay with relatives.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
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Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
This is through no fault of his own, though, as the Auburn quarterback room was, at best, dysfunctional throughout his time on campus.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
And the aftermath has been chaotic and dysfunctional.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026
His parents’ dysfunctional relationships made for an unsafe environment at home, so the decision was made to send him to the Caribbean nation to stay with relatives.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 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 13 May. 2026.
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