Find Synonyms

defective Synonyms

Another word for defective

Choosing another word for defective depends on context, so the 20 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 4 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
JUMP TO:

• adjective (Context 1)

Imperfect, faulty, or failing to function properly due to a flaw in design, construction, or condition.

Usage Example

"The manufacturer issued an immediate recall after discovering that thousands of vehicles had faulty brakes."

Strongest
faulty
flawed
imperfect
Strong
malfunctioning
unsound
broken
damaged
inoperative
impaired
substandard

• adjective (Context 2)

Lacking a required element, legal validity, or normal standard of completeness.

Usage Example

"The appellate court dismissed the lawsuit because the original contract was legally deficient."

Strongest
deficient
Strong
incomplete
inadequate
invalid
lacking
wanting

• noun (Context 3)

A manufactured item or product that has a flaw or fails quality control standards.

Usage Example

"The quality assurance inspector sorted through the batch and set aside all the defectives for recycling."

Strongest
reject
Strong
dud
lemon
second

• adjective (Context 4)

(Of a word, especially a verb or noun) lacking one or more of the usual grammatical inflected forms.

Usage Example

"In English grammar, modal auxiliaries like 'must' and 'ought' are classified as incomplete verbs because they lack infinitive and participle forms."

Strong
incomplete

Opposites of defective

The opposite of defective shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

perfect
faultless
valid
flawless
functional
complete
working
sufficient
See all opposites of defective

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Defective. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/defective
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Dictionary & Reference
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.