To be perfect she lacked just one defect.
Source: tatoeba (1636)
Defect
/ˈdiːfɛkt/
Synonyms for "defect" (386 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (78)
Noun(27 words)
abandonabnormalityabsenceacute diseaseaffectionafflictionailmentallergic diseaseallergyanachronismapostacizeapostatizearrearageatrophyback outbackslidebacterial diseasebetraybirth defectbirthmark
Verb(4 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (115)
Noun(47 words)
darndata errordefect founddeficienciesdemeritdemeritsdesertdesertingdesign flawdetractorsdisadvantagedislocationsdrawbackdysfunctionelectrical malfunctionengineering problemeyesoresfail to operatefailingsfaille
Show 27 more words
failuresfault the systemfaultinessfaultsflawsflyspecksfoiblesfrailtiesgenetic abnormalitygenetic anomalygenetic disorderglitchglitchesgremlingremlinsholesillsimage distortion artifactimperfectimperfectionimperfectionsinadequaciesinadequacyincapabilityinclusionsinfelicitiesinfirmities
dearthdefacementdefalcationdefaultdefectiondeficiencydeficiency diseasedeficitdeformationdeformitydegeneratedegenerative diseasedepartdesertdisabilitydisadvantagediscontinuitydiseasedisfigurationdisfigurement
Show 42 more words
disorderdistemperdistortiondrawbackendemicendemic diseaseendocrine diseaseepidemic diseaseerrorescapefailingfailurefall awayfall offfaultfauteflawfly in the ointmentfoibleforsakefrailtyfrecklefunctional diseasefungus diseasegapgastrointestinal diseasegenetic diseasegogo back ongo overhandicaphemangiomahereditary diseasehiatushickeyholeiatrogenic diseaseillnessimperfectioninadequacyindispositioninfectious disease
Related words (193)
infirmityinsufficiencyintervalirregularitykeloidkinklacklacunaleavelentigolet downliabilitylittle problemmaladymalaisemarkmiliummissmissing linkmistake
Show 108 more words
molemorbiditymorbusmuscular diseaseneedneedle scarneurological diseasenevusnicknutritional diseaseoccupational diseaseomissionorganic diseaseoutagepandemic diseasepathological conditionpathologypimplepippitplant diseasepockpockmarkport-wine markport-wine stainprivationproblemprotozoan diseasepsychosomatic diseasepull outpustulequitratrejectrenegaderenegerenouncerepudiaterespiratory diseaseriftrockinessrun outrun out onscabscantinessscarscarcenessscarcityscratchsebaceous cystsecedesecondary diseaseseedinesssell outshortageshortcomingshortfallsickishnesssicknesssignsignssnagsomething missingsplitspurnstainstrawberry markstyswitchswitch oversymptomsymptomatologysymptomologysymptomssyndrometainttergiversatethe piptracktroubleturnturn againstturn cloakturn traitortwistullageurogenital diseaseverrucavesiclevicevirus diseasevulnerable placewalewalk outwantwantagewarpwartwasting diseaseweak linkweak pointweaknesswealweltwenwhiteheadwithdrawworm disease
Noun(51 words)
issues identifiedkelterlesionlimitationlimitationslimpsmaladiesmalformationmalformationsmalfunctionmalfunctionsmarmarsmechanical faultminusminusesmisfeaturemisfeaturesmore unsatisfactoryniggles
Show 31 more words
nonfunctionnotworkpeccadilloperforationpinholepinholespockmarksportuguese erroprivationsproblemrenegadingrough edgescratchesscuffscuff markscuffsshortcomingssinsingularitiessmirchessnagssoftware bugsoftware malfunctionsplotchesswitch sidesswitchesthieuturncoatsunsoundnesswartsweaknesses
Adjective(9 words)
legal defectmajor irregularityminor blemishpoor qualityserious issuestructural deformationunsatisfactory qualityvulnerable areaweak
Determiner(1 words)
most colonial artifact
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: fault, flaw, shortcoming, deficiency, abandon.
- Sentence evidence is available for defect, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "defect".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "defect"
Keep "defect" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "defect" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "defect", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "defect" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
14 entriesabnormalityappearancechange allegiancedisadvantagefaultfleeflyhealth issueimperfectionimperfectnessleaveproblemtake flightvisual aspect
More specific
12 entrieschromosomal defectcosmetic defectdefect to another countrydefect to the enemydesign defectelectrical defectfunctional defectmanufacturing defectmetabolic defectsensor defectsingle gene defectsoftware defect
Collocations
11 entriescosmetic defectdefect from the groupdefect from the partydefect ratedefect to another countrydefect to the enemydefect to the oppositiondesign defectgenetic defectmajor defectmanufacturing defect
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
17 total sentences available.
For nothing is so beautiful but that it betrays some defect on close inspection.
Source: tatoeba (36436)
If it were not for this defect, I should hire him at once.
Source: tatoeba (59503)
What defect can you find in the present system of education?
Source: tatoeba (239618)
Showing 4 of 17 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "defect"?
Closest matches include fault, flaw, shortcoming, deficiency, abandon.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "defect"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.