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
Erik Per Sullivan, who played Malcolm’s younger brother in the original series about a comedically dysfunctional family, has decided not to return.
—Francie Ebert, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
Having already thwarted an unimpressive — and perhaps dysfunctional — Giants team and a talented Mariners squad, the Yankees will open their home slate against an upstart Marlins club.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
Mumpower said the audit shows MSCS is extremely dysfunctional.
—Brooke Muckerman, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 1 Apr. 2026
With political leadership so feckless, so dysfunctional, so incapable of planning, so willing to betray friends and allies for short-term advantage, so willing to lie and advocate criminal behavior, our military is simply not in responsible hands.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
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Francie Ebert, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
Having already thwarted an unimpressive — and perhaps dysfunctional — Giants team and a talented Mariners squad, the Yankees will open their home slate against an upstart Marlins club.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
Mumpower said the audit shows MSCS is extremely dysfunctional.
—Brooke Muckerman, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 1 Apr. 2026
With political leadership so feckless, so dysfunctional, so incapable of planning, so willing to betray friends and allies for short-term advantage, so willing to lie and advocate criminal behavior, our military is simply not in responsible hands.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 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 8 Apr. 2026.
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