as in to fail
to fail to function or work properly
A software problem is causing the system to malfunction.
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Recent Examples of malfunction
If the system misinterprets sensor data and fails to flag a critical structural issue, the crane could malfunction mid-operation, leading to potential safety hazards, project delays or even catastrophic accidents.
—
Usman Shuja, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Sound was a problem throughout the evening, and a malfunctioning mic came close to ruining Adam Brody and Kristen Bell's Nobody Wants This bit.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 24 Feb. 2025
Rocket safety systems typically include software designed to blow up a malfunctioning vehicle to prevent large, damaging pieces of debris from reaching the ground.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 3 Mar. 2025
In January, the company recalled approximately 239,000 vehicles due to malfunctioning rear-view cameras.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
Usman Shuja, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Sound was a problem throughout the evening, and a malfunctioning mic came close to ruining Adam Brody and Kristen Bell's Nobody Wants This bit.
—Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 24 Feb. 2025
Rocket safety systems typically include software designed to blow up a malfunctioning vehicle to prevent large, damaging pieces of debris from reaching the ground.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 3 Mar. 2025
In January, the company recalled approximately 239,000 vehicles due to malfunctioning rear-view cameras.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
Cite this Entry
“Malfunction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malfunction. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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