as in defect
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing
noted the flaw in the diamond before I bought it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
that crack has flawed the vase to the extent that its value in the antiques market is greatly reduced
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of flaw
Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 25 Aug. 2025
The best sitcom characters in the world have got a fatal flaw.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
Sanjeev Menon, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
For those who believe the process was flawed, democracy provides a remedy; work to have the process modified.
—Charles E. Sydnor, Baltimore Sun, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flaw
Noun
Some of the initial studies claimed that running as little as 20 miles per week could cause problems, but those studies turned out to have serious statistical flaws.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 25 Aug. 2025
The best sitcom characters in the world have got a fatal flaw.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
Verb
And my prediction that WFH and exclusively remote work was the future was inherently flawed.
—Sanjeev Menon, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
For those who believe the process was flawed, democracy provides a remedy; work to have the process modified.
—Charles E. Sydnor, Baltimore Sun, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flaw
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flaw
Noun
-
Other basement defects may include items such as flooding, defects in drain tiling or sump pumps, or movement, shifting, or deterioration in the foundation.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Each recall, issued separately, warns consumers of the risks posed by defects or regulatory violations.—
Daniel Orton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Hailey has an even rarer type of the illness, an extreme form of hemophilia B. That means bleeding inside his body could damage organs or tissue and quickly put his life at risk.—
Beth Warren,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
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The suspect, Kevin Charles Pyles, allegedly admitted to wanting to damage the synagogue and blamed minorities for his unemployment, officials say.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Its back has orange and gray markings with a scattering of darker brown blotches.—
Aspen Pflughoeft
Updated July 9,
Miami Herald,
9 July 2025
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The baby was purple-gray-colored, in blotches; wet, smeared in blood and what looked like whitish wax.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 July 2025
Verb
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Boston comes in with three straight losses marring otherwise agreeable vibes.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Many worried that the marshy western shore of the borough had been forever marred.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Whether nestled in lush forests or barren deserts, these towns bear the scars of time, showcasing human ingenuity while reminding us of the inevitability of decay.—
Kieron Marchese,
Architectural Digest,
25 Aug. 2025
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Flash flooding is also possible over burn scar areas including the Davis, Conner, Bear, Mill, Inn and Tamarack burn scars.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, evening primrose oil Best For: Dry, compromised, and sensitive skin How to Use: After cleansing, apply it to a cotton pad and pat it onto your face and neck.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
24 Aug. 2025
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But reviewers are surprised at how light these are—about eight ounces per shoe—while not compromising on essential protection.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In the quarterfinals, Miami beat Mexican club Tigres 2-1 despite the absence of Messi, who was injured.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
30 Aug. 2025
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The attacker in a Catholic church school shooting in Minnesota that killed two children and injured 18 others arrived at the scene heavily armed with an AR-15-style rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and a 9mm pistol, according to court records obtained by the St. Cloud Times, part of the USA TODAY Network.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.—
Shira Ovide,
Washington Post,
4 Apr. 2023
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Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.—
Anthony Maluso,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Flaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flaw. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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