as in defective
having a fault
an imperfect representation of the circumstances surrounding Paul Revere's famous ride
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Recent Examples of imperfect
The team was aggressive, if imperfect, on the bases, the former of which Tracy hopes becomes a staple of this very club.
—
Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
But experts have warned that these problems are an imperfect benchmark of artificial intelligence’s mathematical prowess.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
You’re guided through the process, but the end result still feels personal and slightly imperfect—which is exactly what wabi-sabi is all about.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 23 Apr. 2026
Over the past century, knot theorists have developed a set of clear, if imperfect, tools for distinguishing knots.
—Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for imperfect
Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
But experts have warned that these problems are an imperfect benchmark of artificial intelligence’s mathematical prowess.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
You’re guided through the process, but the end result still feels personal and slightly imperfect—which is exactly what wabi-sabi is all about.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 23 Apr. 2026
Over the past century, knot theorists have developed a set of clear, if imperfect, tools for distinguishing knots.
—Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for imperfect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperfect
Adjective
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Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snap are also involved in a major federal trial in the Northern District of California involving similar claims that the companies misled consumers and built defective apps with features that fostered unhealthy and addictive behaviors in teens and children.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
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Haber's colleague, Daniel Levin, filed the lawsuit in March, accusing Riverwalk East Developers, LLC of overseeing defective work, supported by engineering and plumbing inspection results.—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Or worse, to turn it into a sort of prison sentence.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Still, from his horns and tattoos to the double-bladed lightsaber, Maul's bad-guy chic was hard to beat.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Adjective
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The Nuggets are fundamentally flawed.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
2 May 2026
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DeSantis said the 2020 census was flawed and undercounted people in the state.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imperfect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperfect. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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