flaw
1 of 3noun (1)
ˈflȯ 
1
a
: a defect in physical structure or form
a diamond with a flaw
b
: an imperfection or weakness and especially one that detracts from the whole or hinders effectiveness
vanity was the flaw in his character
a flaw in the book's plot
2
obsolete : fragment
flaw
2 of 3verb
flawed; flawing; flaws
transitive verb
: to make flaws in : mar
intransitive verb
: to become defective
flaw
3 of 3noun (2)
1
: a sudden brief burst of wind
the wind changed with flaws from westward
Archibald MacLeish
Archibald MacLeish also : a spell of stormy weather
2
obsolete : an outburst especially of passion
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- blemish
- blight
- blotch
- defect
- deformity
- disfigurement
- excrescence
- excrescency
- fault
- imperfection
- mar
- mark
- pockmark
- scar
Verb
- blemish
- bloody
- break
- compromise
- crab
- cripple
- cross (up)
- damage
- deface
- disfigure
- endamage
- harm
- hurt
- impair
- injure
- mar
- spoil
- vitiate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb that crack has flawed the vase to the extent that its value in the antiques market is greatly reduced
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1) and Verb
Middle English, flake, from Old Norse flaga stone slab, moldar flaga thin layer of turf; akin to Old English flōh flat stone
Noun (2)
of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian flaga gust, squall
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1610, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun (2)
1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing flaw
Kids Definition
flaw
noun
ˈflȯ
: a small fault or weakness
There is a flaw in the plan.
flaws 1 of 2
noun
as in defects
something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing noted the flaw in the diamond before I bought it Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- defects
- scars
- blotches
- faults
- imperfections
- marks
- irregularities
- distortions
- blemishes
- weaknesses
- deformities
- stains
- blights
- abnormalities
- bugs
- mars
- excrescences
- disfigurements
- spots
- pockmarks
- glitches
- injuries
- failings
- excrescencies
- malformations
- damages
- kinks
- misshapes
- impairments
- blots
- taints
- blurs
- defacements
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- enhancements
- ornaments
- decorations
- adornments
- embellishments
flaws
2 of 2verb
as in damages
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of that crack has flawed the vase to the extent that its value in the antiques market is greatly reduced Synonyms & Similar Words
- damages
- mars
- compromises
- injures
- blemishes
- hurts
- cripples
- harms
- weakens
- spoils
- erodes
- breaks
- impairs
- disfigures
- ruins
- crabs
- vitiates
- undermines
- destroys
- defaces
- wounds
- endamages
- deteriorates
- dents
- shatters
- blights
- bloodies
- wrecks
- dings
- enfeebles
- batters
- dints
- tarnishes
- botches
- crosses (up)
- tortures
- enervates
- demolishes
- washes out
- scours
- wastes
- torments
- scourges
- tears down
- smashes
- lames
- devastates
- totals
- crushes
- maims
- mutilates
- queers
- disables
- lacerates
- wipes out
- hamstrings
- mangles
- wears (away)
- bashes
- annihilates
- desolates
- dashes
- pulverizes
- decimates
- bangs up
- clobbers
- razes
- does in
- gums (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- repairs
- fixes
- patches
- doctors
- remedies
- mends
- cures
- rebuilds
- reconstructs
- reconditions
- revamps
- rectifies
- helps
- renovates
- heals
- edits
- improves
- rehabilitates
- enhances
- revises
- perfects
- refines
- remodels
- ameliorates
- enriches
- betters
- meliorates