flawed

[flawd]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR flawed ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

characterized by flaws; having imperfections: a flawed gem; a seriously flawed piece of work.

Nearby words

Origin of flawed

First recorded in 1595–1605; flaw¹ + -ed³

Related formsflawed·ness, nounnon·flawed, adjectiveun·flawed, adjective

flaw

[flaw]

noun

a feature that mars the perfection of something; defect; fault: beauty without flaw; the flaws in our plan.

a defect impairing legal soundness or validity.

a crack, break, breach, or rent.

verb (used with object)

to produce a flaw in.

verb (used without object)

to contract a flaw; become cracked or defective.

Origin of flaw

1275–1325; Middle English flaw(e), flage, perhaps < Old Norse flaga sliver, flake

SYNONYMS FOR flaw

1. imperfection, blot, spot. 3. fissure, rift.

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Related formsflaw·less, adjective

Synonym study

1. See defect.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for flawed

On the other end of the spectrum, there lies an artist like Lena Dunham, who engages in a flaunting of the flawed self.
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination|Mindy Farabee|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Despite the actions of a flawed few, it is arguably the finest professional police force in the world.
The Wildly Peaceful, Human, Almost Boring, Ultimately Great New York City Protests for Eric Garner|Mike Barnicle|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Islands overrun by flawed people, both indigenous and imperialist.
How Haoles Destroyed Hawaii|Wendy Smith|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Court cases are flawed devices to sort out and solve such important social problems.
There’s No Conspiracy in Ferguson’s Secret Jury|Paul Callan|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

And he, being a truly, deeply evil character, is about as flawed as you can get.
Harry Shearer on Being Nixon, ‘The Simpsons Movie’ Sequel, and Why Obama Should Return His Nobel|Marlow Stern|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They may be flawed—they may be true—hardly any one has thought of sounding them.
The Philosophy of Natural Theology|William Jackson
When the Evil One wrought in human shapes, surely his work was ever flawed as to feet!
The Unknown Sea|Clemence Housman
And it was something golden and immortal in her poor, flawed, human heart.
The Brimming Cup|Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Pomp and dominion, fame and victory, seem now but flawed and dimly-shaded gems compared with thy bright smile!'
Alroy|Benjamin Disraeli
Something had flawed the relation that each called friendship, and refrained from speculating about any other designation for.
It Never Can Happen Again|William De Morgan

British Dictionary definitions for flawed

flaw

noun

an imperfection, defect, or blemish

a crack, breach, or rift

law an invalidating fault or defect in a document or proceeding

verb

to make or become blemished, defective, or imperfect

Derived Formsflawless, adjectiveflawlessly, adverbflawlessness, noun

Word Origin for flaw

C14: probably from Old Norse flaga stone slab; related to Swedish flaga chip, flake, flaw

flaw

noun

a sudden short gust of wind; squall
a spell of bad, esp windy, weather

obsolete an outburst of strong feeling

Derived Formsflawy, adjective

Word Origin for flaw

C16: of Scandinavian origin; related to Norwegian flaga squall, gust, Middle Dutch vlāghe

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for flawed

flaw

early 15c. (implied in flawed); see flaw (n.). Related: Flawing.

flaw

early 14c., "a flake" (of snow), also in Middle English "a spark of fire; a splinter," from Old Norse flaga "stone slab, flake" (see flagstone); sense of "defect, fault" first recorded 1580s, first of character, later (c.1600) of material things; probably via notion of a "fragment" broken off.

flawed

adjective

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Origin of flawed

flaw

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of flaw

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for flawed

flaw

noun

verb

Word Origin for flaw

flaw

noun

Word Origin for flaw

flaw

flaw