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Definitions

defect

[dee-fekt, dih-fekt, dih-fekt] / ˈdi fɛkt, dɪˈfɛkt, dɪˈfɛkt /
NOUN
blemish, imperfection
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bug crack deficiency deformity error fault flaw glitch injury irregularity lack mistake shortage shortcoming weakness
STRONG
birthmark blot blotch break catch check discoloration drawback failing foible frailty gap gremlin hole infirmity kink knot mark marring patch rift scar scarcity scratch seam second sin speck spot stain taint unsoundness vice want
WEAK
rough spot weak point
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abundance accuracy advantage benefit blessing certainty correction correctness enough good perfection plenty right strength strong point success sufficiency truth
STRONG
blank boon clarity cleanliness closure line
WEAK
improvement
VERB
break from belief, faith
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abandon abscond depart desert pull out quit reject renounce revolt withdraw
STRONG
apostatize forsake go lapse leave rat rebel renege schism spurn tergiversate turn
WEAK
back out break faith change sides fall away from go back on go over go over the fence run out sell out take a walk tergiverse turn coat walk out on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allow approve come continue persevere remain stay support
WEAK
come in join

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Iranian authorities however alleged that Australia sought to force the athletes to defect.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Further experiments with collaborators in Copenhagen showed that the PAM defect does not affect how GLP-1 binds to its receptor or how signals are transmitted.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

He supplements his income by breeding: In the opening chapter, Muthammai, a woman with a genetic defect, gives birth to her 18th child.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

There’s an understanding among the leagues that given Fanatics ships around 100-million items per year, an error or defect rate of just 1% would result in hundreds of thousands of upset customers.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

It bothered him and he acquired movements and habits to disguise what to him was a burning defect.

From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison

Vocabulary lists containing defect

Tuesdays with Morrie

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The Glass Menagerie

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Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address (1801)

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