as in failed
to fail to function or work properly
A software problem is causing the system to malfunction.
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Recent Examples of malfunctioned
The Heat seemed in control until Ayo Dosunmo caught fire and Miami’s offense repeatedly malfunctioned during a six-minute stretch of the fourth quarter.
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Dealership technicians told Mahon that his engine had malfunctioned because of contaminated fuel and that several parts of the engine and fuel systems may have been damaged, the lawsuit stated.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
The Wild Twister previously malfunctioned another time in March 2021, leaving 14 riders stranded for six minutes, The Standard Hong Kong reported.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Two theme parkgoers were trapped more than 100 feet in the air for more than 30 minutes this week after a roller coaster in Texas malfunctioned.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 21 Dec. 2025
The plane’s landing gear malfunctioned, according to a team spokesperson.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
The most significant fire was on Wednesday when an investigator said a generator being used at a home on Pleasant Park Road in Conifer malfunctioned.
—Alan Gionet, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025
Strobe lighting inside the arena used for pre-game introductions malfunctioned badly, staying on and flickering, causing a glare on the court.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 6 Dec. 2025
What was meant to be a short stay in space for US astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore stretched into a more than nine-month mission, after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that was supposed to ferry them home malfunctioned.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Dealership technicians told Mahon that his engine had malfunctioned because of contaminated fuel and that several parts of the engine and fuel systems may have been damaged, the lawsuit stated.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
The Wild Twister previously malfunctioned another time in March 2021, leaving 14 riders stranded for six minutes, The Standard Hong Kong reported.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Two theme parkgoers were trapped more than 100 feet in the air for more than 30 minutes this week after a roller coaster in Texas malfunctioned.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 21 Dec. 2025
The plane’s landing gear malfunctioned, according to a team spokesperson.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
The most significant fire was on Wednesday when an investigator said a generator being used at a home on Pleasant Park Road in Conifer malfunctioned.
—Alan Gionet, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025
Strobe lighting inside the arena used for pre-game introductions malfunctioned badly, staying on and flickering, causing a glare on the court.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 6 Dec. 2025
What was meant to be a short stay in space for US astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore stretched into a more than nine-month mission, after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that was supposed to ferry them home malfunctioned.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malfunctioned
Verb
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In the third lawsuit, a federal judge in Miami last summer ordered the facility to wind down operations over two months because officials had failed to do a review of the detention center's environmental impact.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
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But shares slid Wednesday evening as Azure failed to deliver meaningful growth upside.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Small plane crash in Colombia kills 15 BOGOTA, Colombia -- A small plane crashed Wednesday in a rural area of Norte de Santander province in northeast Colombia, killing all 15 people on board including a member of congress, authorities said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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In pictures shared by the CHP, multiple trucks and cars were seen crashed into each other, with personal belongings lying on the ground.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Malfunctioned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malfunctioned. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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