variants
also disfunction
as in disease
impaired or abnormal functioning (as of a body part)
She's suffered from minor brain dysfunction since the accident.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dysfunction
With the dysfunction in Sacramento accelerating in recent years, the accomplishments of Jerry Brown in his last eight years as governor seem all the more impressive.
—
U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
The book is not about Konkle’s comedy career, but rather the familial dysfunction that may have helped cultivate it.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 6 May 2026
Government dysfunction and failing basic city services Angelenos are paying more and getting less.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Texas’ inability to regulate body donation left research stalled and oversight in limbo for years, driven by dysfunction inside the agency tasked with fixing it.
—Dug Begley, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dysfunction
U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
The book is not about Konkle’s comedy career, but rather the familial dysfunction that may have helped cultivate it.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 6 May 2026
Government dysfunction and failing basic city services Angelenos are paying more and getting less.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Texas’ inability to regulate body donation left research stalled and oversight in limbo for years, driven by dysfunction inside the agency tasked with fixing it.
—Dug Begley, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dysfunction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dysfunction
Noun
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Over time, however, the disease has spread across the East Coast and Midwest, with diagnoses reaching 35 states.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
21 May 2026
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In later life, this formative programming can increase the risk of not only mental illnesses like depression, but physical diseases too, such as cancer and obesity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Noun
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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates that about 30 percent of people experiencing chronic homelessness live with a serious mental illness, and nearly half have a co-occurring substance use disorder.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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Chronic circadian misalignment is associated with a 30-40% higher risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, depression and anxiety.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dysfunction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dysfunction. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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