flawed

flawed — adjective

1. A person, plan, argument, object, or system that is flawed has a weakness, a mis

1.adjectiveC2
Definition

A person, plan, argument, object, or system that is flawed has a weakness, a mistake, or a fault that stops it from being completely good or correct.

Example

The building's design was flawed because the windows faced the wrong way.

predicative 'was flawed' + reason clause

Research papers that rely on flawed data can mislead other scientists.

attributive use: 'flawed data' before a noun

Common collocations
  • deeply flawed
  • fundamentally flawed
  • seriously flawed
  • flawed reasoning
  • flawed logic
  • flawed argument
  • flawed design
  • flawed character
  • flawed system
  • flawed method
Synonyms
  • defective

    stronger and more technical; used for manufactured items that fail to meet a required standard ('defective engine parts')

  • faulty

    implies something does not work correctly; common for machines, wiring, and reasoning ('faulty logic')

  • imperfect

    softer and more general; suggests minor weaknesses rather than serious problems

  • unsound

    used for arguments, plans, or financial investments that lack a solid basis ('unsound economic policy')

Antonyms
  • perfect

    the most direct opposite; suggests no weaknesses or mistakes at all

  • flawless

    emphasises the complete absence of any defect; common in performance contexts ('a flawless speech')

  • sound

    opposite of 'unsound'; describes reasoning, plans, or structures that are reliable and well-founded

Grammar Patterns

flawed + noun (attributive)

be / seem / remain + flawed (predicative)

deeply / fundamentally / seriously + flawed

Usage Note

Commonly used to describe abstract things such as plans, arguments, systems, research methods, or laws. When applied to a person, 'flawed' usually refers to their character or moral qualities ('a deeply flawed leader'), not their physical appearance. The adverb 'fundamentally' is a frequent intensifier and suggests the weakness is at the very core of the thing.

Common Mistakes

The experiment flawed because the temperature was too high.
The experiment was flawed because the temperature was too high.
'flawed' is an adjective, not an intransitive verb; use 'be flawed' or 'had a flaw.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that is not as good or correct as it should be, but they differ in scope and register. 'Flawed' is the most general and neutral, applied to everything from arguments to character to design. 'Defective' is stronger and more technical, typically used for manufactured items that fail to meet a required standard (e.g., a defective car part). 'Faulty' focuses on malfunction — a faulty lock does not work, and faulty reasoning has a logical break. 'Imperfect' is a gentler, everyday word that suggests minor shortcomings rather than serious failures; an imperfect solution might still be acceptable. 'Unsound' is narrower and more formal, reserved for ideas, plans, or institutions that lack a solid foundation. For example, a critic might call a film 'flawed but interesting,' a mechanic would replace a 'defective brake cable,' a judge might overturn a ruling based on 'faulty logic,' a teacher could accept an 'imperfect' essay, and an economist would warn against an 'unsound' investment strategy.

defective ↗faultyimperfectunsound

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • flawed from the start
  • deeply flawed in its logic

Etymology

Old NorseEnglish

The adjective 'flawed' comes from the noun 'flaw', which entered English from Old Norse 'flaga', meaning a slab of stone or a crack. In Middle English, 'flaw' was used for a break or split in a material. By the 1600s it had broadened to mean any kind of defect or weakness, and by the 1700s the form 'flawed' appeared as an adjective describing something that has such a fault.