as in scar
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing
the statue has a slight defect on the base, so it's being sold at a discount
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of defect
Ed Garsten,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Federal bridge inspections – rooted in National Bridge Inspection Standards mandated by Congress in 1968 – exist because past failures showed that small defects can threaten large structures.
—
Alex Krasnok,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
The Eritrean football team was not allowed to take part in qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations from 2008 until this year, primarily because the country’s rulers thought that players would defect while playing abroad.
—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defect
Noun
This collaboration provides dealers with a more comprehensive view of a vehicle's real-time condition, including defects in the interior, exterior, underbody, and tires, alongside its service history.
—
Ed Garsten,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Federal bridge inspections – rooted in National Bridge Inspection Standards mandated by Congress in 1968 – exist because past failures showed that small defects can threaten large structures.
—
Alex Krasnok,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
Verb
During his six-year career at the agency, in the early two-thousands, Chalker says, his work persuading Iranian scientists to defect yielded key details about their nation’s nuclear-weapons program.
—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
The Eritrean football team was not allowed to take part in qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations from 2008 until this year, primarily because the country’s rulers thought that players would defect while playing abroad.
—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for defect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defect
Noun
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South Africa on Tuesday faces a major test for a state already stretched and carrying the scars of violence from years prior.
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An 18-year-old man with autism was repeatedly beaten and burned by his father and stepmother, resulting in his body being left covered with scars, according to investigators in North Carolina.
Verb
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Costco’s Jim Sinegal was the son of Canadian immigrants whose own family had emigrated from Romania.
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Bajraktarevic’s parents are from Bosnia, left for Switzerland after losing relatives in the war, and then emigrated to the United States in 2001.
Noun
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Verticillium wilt causes similar blotches and yellowing.
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Pine snakes can grow up to 56 inches in length, have black, brown, and russet scales with dark blotches along their backs, and are noted for having a pointed nose, which experts believe may help with burrowing.
Verb
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There are hiking trails and even pilgrimage routes all over the world.
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Nearly 100,000 visitors pilgrimage to the area annually to witness a forest canopy cloaked in orange-and-black wings.
Noun
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Small accidents, although no fault of your own, may cause this.
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Through no fault of her own, Clark has become part of the culture war.
Verb
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Silversea is lauded for both its classic ocean liners and expedition ships, which voyage the globe including the Poles.
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Some ships even reposition between polar regions or across the Southern Hemisphere—voyages far longer than most standard cruises ever attempt.
Noun
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Ingrown Toenails Can Form Long-term pressure from too-tight shoes, poor nail trimming, or other deformities in toe or foot can cause an ingrown toenail.
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Signs of scoliosis Early detection is important and can help prevent progression of spinal deformity and reduce the need for surgery.
Verb
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See what Muir himself loved about this region by trekking part or all of the stunning Bishop Pass Trail (about 11 miles out and back) or the Little Lakes Valley Trail.
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Bodycam video shared by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch Wednesday afternoon showed at least two officers trekking up the skyscraper and meeting Nikolau and Kuznetsov, who appeared to be unharnessed.
Cite this Entry
“Defect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defect. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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