Defect
Defect noun - Something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing.
Usage example: the statue has a slight defect on the base, so it's being sold at a discount
Flaw is a synonym for defect in fault topic. In some cases you can use "Flaw" instead a noun "Defect", when it comes to topics like blemish, shortcoming, characteristic, thing. popular alternative
Flaw
Flaw noun - Something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing.
Usage example: noted the flaw in the diamond before I bought it
Defect is a synonym for flaw in shortcoming topic. You can use "Defect" instead a noun "Flaw", if it concerns topics such as characteristic, weakness, limitation, disadvantage. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
How words are described
| physical | physical defect | physical flaw |
| similar | similar defect | similar flaw |
| common | common defect | common flaw |
| certain | certain defect | certain flaw |
| Other adjectives: critical, single, glaring, small, real, big, serious, tiny, slight, social, inherent, personal, major, possible, minor, fatal, inherited, intentional, perceived, aforementioned, debilitating, genetic. | ||
Both words in one sentence
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It may be that the process used to make the Clone, Half-Human Hybrid or genetically enhanced character with Super Soldier powers had an inadvertent (or intentional) design flaw (or "birth defect") that slowly reduces their lifespan, limiting their lives to years or months.
Source: Power Degeneration
Cite this Source
Flaw and Defect. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/defect/flaw
Defect & Flaw. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/defect/flaw>.
Flaw or Defect. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/defect/flaw.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "defect" and "flaw" have occurred on timeline