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
The Wolves have made huge strides as an organization over the last five years, rising up from being one of sports’ most dysfunctional franchises to become a perennial playoff team.
—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
4 July 2026
July 4 birthed independence but also a dysfunctional confederacy.
—
Max Taves,
Mercury News,
3 July 2026
And in Washington this week, that dysfunctional democracy was on full display.
—
ABC News,
28 June 2026
The quirky feature, about a shy 16-year-old and his dysfunctional family, unveiled in Cannes’ ACID line-up this year.
—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dysfunctional
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Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
4 July 2026
July 4 birthed independence but also a dysfunctional confederacy.
—
Max Taves,
Mercury News,
3 July 2026
And in Washington this week, that dysfunctional democracy was on full display.
—
ABC News,
28 June 2026
The quirky feature, about a shy 16-year-old and his dysfunctional family, unveiled in Cannes’ ACID line-up this year.
—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
27 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 6 Jul. 2026.
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