MALFUNCTION: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for MALFUNCTION?

Need another word that means the same as “malfunction”? Find 21 synonyms and 30 related words for “malfunction” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Malfunction” are: misfunction, crash, develop a fault, go wrong, break down, break, act up, be defective, be faulty, fail, cease to function, cease to work, stop working, breakdown, fault, failure, defect, flaw, collapse, impairment

Malfunction as a Noun

Definitions of "Malfunction" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “malfunction” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A failure to function normally.

Synonyms of "Malfunction" as a noun (8 Words)

breakdown	A mental or physical breakdown. A communications breakdown.
collapse	An instance of a structure falling down or giving way. She s lying there in a state of collapse.
crash	A sudden disastrous drop in the value or price of something. A pilot who survived the crash of his plane.
defect	An imperfection in an object or machine. If there are any defects you should send it back to the manufacturer.
failure	A person with a record of failing; someone who loses consistently. Symptoms of heart failure.
fault	A break or other defect in an electric circuit or piece of machinery. He studied the faulting of the earth s crust.
flaw	A fault or weakness in a person’s character. A flaw caused the crystal to shatter.
impairment	The occurrence of a change for the worse. Hearing impairment.

Usage Examples of "Malfunction" as a noun

• They were sent back to the manufacturers at the first sign of malfunction.
• A computer malfunction.

Malfunction as a Verb

Definitions of "Malfunction" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “malfunction” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Fail to function or function improperly.
• (of a piece of equipment or machinery) fail to function normally.

Synonyms of "Malfunction" as a verb (13 Words)

act up	Be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure.
be defective	Have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun.
be faulty	Be priced at.
break	Become fractured break or crack on the surface only. She put out an arm to break her fall.
break down	Break down literally or metaphorically.
cease to function	Have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical.
cease to work	Have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical.
crash	Cause to crash. The test pilot crashed a Hurricane fighter plane.
develop a fault	Make something new, such as a product or a mental or artistic creation.
fail	Fail to get a passing grade. The criteria used to pass or fail the candidate.
go wrong	Stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point.
misfunction	Fail to function or function improperly.
stop working	Cause to stop.

Usage Examples of "Malfunction" as a verb

• The unit is clearly malfunctioning.
• The coffee maker malfunctioned.

Associations of "Malfunction" (30 Words)

ascertain	Learn or discover with certainty. Management should ascertain whether adequate funding can be provided.
breakdown	A mental or physical breakdown. A breakdown in military discipline.
damage	Suffer or be susceptible to damage. Bombing caused extensive damage to the town.
destroyed	Destroyed physically or morally. Alzheimer s is responsible for her destroyed mind.
detect	Discover or identify the presence or existence of. Cancer may soon be detected in its earliest stages.
detection	The detection that a signal is being received. The early detection of fetal abnormalities.
determine	Find out learn or determine with certainty usually by making an inquiry or other effort. Experience often determines ability.
discern	Detect with the senses. Pupils quickly discern what is acceptable to the teacher.
discover	Discover or determine the existence presence or fact of. With what agility did these military men discover their skill in feats of war.
discovered	Discovered or determined by scientific observation. Discovered differences in achievement.
discovery	The act of discovering something. The drug is not a new discovery.
espy	Catch sight of. She espied her daughter rounding the corner.
explore	Examine (organs) for diagnostic purposes. Explore unknown territory in biology.
failure	Inability to discharge all your debts as they come due. Their failure to comply with the basic rules.
find	Come upon after searching find the location of something that was missed or lost. The majority of staff find the magazine to be informative and useful.
happening	An event or occurrence. Altogether it was an eerie happening.
improperly	In a way that lacks modesty or decency. Evidence is inadmissible if it is improperly obtained.
inappropriate	Not suitable or proper in the circumstances. There are penalties for inappropriate behaviour.
incidence	The relative frequency of occurrence of something. The point of incidence of the beam.
kaput	Broken and useless; no longer working or effective. The water pump s broken kaput.
mishap	An unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate. Although there were a few minor mishaps none of the pancakes stuck to the ceiling.
newfound	Newly discovered. Hudson pointed his ship down the coast of the newfound sea.
notice	Notice or perceive. He gave notice two months before he moved.
occur	Happen; take place. The accident occurred at about 3 30 p m.
occurrence	An incident or event. A disease of frequent occurrence.
prevention	The action of stopping something from happening or arising. The treatment and prevention of malaria.
problem	A question raised for consideration or solution. The problem of ageism in Hollywood.
seismograph	An instrument that measures and records details of earthquakes, such as force and duration.
startling	Very surprising, astonishing, or remarkable. Startling earthquake shocks.
unsuitable	Not capable of being applied. The display is unsuitable for young children.