as in scars
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of defects
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026
Surgeons can intervene when a baby is born blind, deaf and with heart defects after being exposed to rubella in the womb, but the child is still likely to face a life shaped by disability.
—Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
The brand will also replace your garment within one year of purchase if there are any defects or faulty manufacturing issues—sure sign of a quality product.
—Harry Spampinato, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Ford estimates that all of these vehicles have the defects.
—CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
My companion must be of the same species, and have the same defects.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 7 Mar. 2026
Ford estimates that all of these vehicles have the defects.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
In the past, interior textures were used to cover up defects in the molding process.
—Beth Livesay, AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026
One looming decision that Stifel analyst Paul Matteis is tracking is a drug candidate from Denali Therapeutics for Hunter syndrome, a rare disease that causes physical defects like hearing loss and joint problems, as well as cognitive issues.
—Angelica Peebles, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Inside these materials, the researchers created tiny defects called torons.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026
Surgeons can intervene when a baby is born blind, deaf and with heart defects after being exposed to rubella in the womb, but the child is still likely to face a life shaped by disability.
—Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026
The brand will also replace your garment within one year of purchase if there are any defects or faulty manufacturing issues—sure sign of a quality product.
—Harry Spampinato, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Ford estimates that all of these vehicles have the defects.
—CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
My companion must be of the same species, and have the same defects.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 7 Mar. 2026
Ford estimates that all of these vehicles have the defects.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
In the past, interior textures were used to cover up defects in the molding process.
—Beth Livesay, AJC.com, 6 Mar. 2026
One looming decision that Stifel analyst Paul Matteis is tracking is a drug candidate from Denali Therapeutics for Hunter syndrome, a rare disease that causes physical defects like hearing loss and joint problems, as well as cognitive issues.
—Angelica Peebles, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defects
Noun
-
My surgeon did a great job; my scars are not bad.—
Marci Greenberg Cox,
Glamour,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The recent scars of Hezbollah's activities were all too visible.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Early salt damage often appears as pale, chalky blotches or uneven fading in the paint finish.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Its purple black center was surrounded by blotches of varying shades and textures, raised or sunken at places.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After the Rebellion’s defeat on the ice planet Hoth, Luke journeys to the planet Dagobah to train with Jedi Master Yoda.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 Apr. 2026
-
One of the most popular hikes—the Vikos Gorge—journeys through one of the deepest gorges, winding along quiet villages and monasteries.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The tectonic architecture of the Aegean Sea is messy, rife with crisscrossing faults and myriad volcanoes that make unraveling what happens at depth extremely difficult.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Tonga is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the arc of seismic faults where much of the world’s earthquake and volcanic activity occurs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Both the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center and the Unitarian Meeting House host tours regularly, and the Seth Peterson Cottage—about an hour north—is available for overnight stays.—
Amelia Mularz,
Architectural Digest,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Tigertail, 36, who captains airboat tours through the Everglades, is navigating his boat through the only route available given how dry the park has gotten this year.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When warning signs appear, communities need a repeatable playbook that prioritizes life-safety while preserving the records and rights that help owners recover the costs of fixing what went wrong when avoidable construction flaws are found to be the cause.—
Keegan A. Berry,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
-
And so prediction markets, for all their flaws, can lead directly to the doorstep of those profiting from privileged information—prosecutors need only follow the breadcrumbs.—
Nic Puckrin,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nor is the scene in which Cory trips on mushrooms on Hollywood Boulevard (which is probably true of half the people walking there).—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Mar. 2026
-
That's honestly great news for tailors and anyone who regularly trips over their own feet.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Leon's order, which also included a number of exclamation marks, said the government must get congressional approval before continuing the project.—
Arden Farhi,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
All of those offensive marks were needed for Orlando to leave Dallas on top 138-127 in a high-scoring affair that saw Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg post 51 points, 24 of which were recorded in the fourth quarter.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Defects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defects. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
