How to Use malfunction in a Sentence

malfunction

1 of 2 verb
  • A software problem is causing the system to malfunction.
  • What might work one week, one month or one season could malfunction the next.
    — Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 13 Nov. 2020
  • The board kind of malfunctioned, to be honest.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025
  • Lights and gate arms can also malfunction.
    — David Ingram, NBC news, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Ford said she was left with bruises after the ride malfunctioned.
    — Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2023
  • But there are many ways that the vestibular system can malfunction.
    — Shayla Love, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2023
  • Those screens malfunctioned and contributed to the flood of raw sewage.
    — Robert J. Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2023
  • When a compressing piston malfunctioned, the two men were crushed.
    — Kurtis Lee, New York Times, 23 Nov. 2023
  • The fake sharks, which had been tested in a freshwater tank, malfunctioned in salt water.
    — Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 24 July 2023
  • Some found out even earlier in the day after their smart mattress tech malfunctioned.
    — PC Magazine, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Crocker was left wondering why his defense, which had been so good for so long, had malfunctioned.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
  • But Cate’s powers have been malfunctioning and she’s been advised not to use them.
    — Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • While the glitter bomb malfunctioned, Owens was smitten.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025
  • A lot can go wrong with a sump pump, from electrical problems to clogs and malfunctioning switches.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
  • If only the radio hadn’t malfunctioned.
    — Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • At the final dress rehearsal, part of the set malfunctioned and knocked over two miniature art deco buildings.
    — Seija Rankin, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2023
  • And Dollar Tree recalled about a million hot glue guns that can malfunction while in use.
    — Chris Smith, BGR, 9 May 2022
  • Our one qualm is that during testing, the cases sustained dents, and the zipper malfunctioned.
    — Nathan Allen, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The driver claimed to have been using the car’s full self-driving function, which appears to have malfunctioned.
    — Allysia Finley, WSJ, 11 June 2023
  • Crypto of all varieties seems to be malfunctioning compared to the shiny stuff.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026
  • There are many instances like that where technology has malfunctioned.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 Nov. 2025
  • The receiver is not malfunctioning; it has simply been tricked.
    — Anna Raymaker, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Physicians and engineers alike fretted about the high stakes if a system malfunctioned.
    — Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
  • In turn, amphibians’ cells will shrink, their proteins will malfunction and their nerve signaling will fail.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Your body isn’t malfunctioning.
    — Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Your body isn’t malfunctioning.
    — Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
  • But like most cells in the body, B cells can malfunction or not function fully, enabling cancer cells to evade them.
    — Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
  • The meeting comes after Amazon’s online store malfunctioned for some users last week.
    — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026
  • But the gate malfunctioned and other employees working that day couldn’t get in to help her until her eye was damaged.
    — Sahana Jayaraman, AZCentral.com, 27 June 2023
  • That’s because Laars issued a recall for two boilers that can malfunction.
    — Chris Smith, BGR, 24 July 2022

malfunction

2 of 2 noun
  • There were drape malfunctions again, but the show went on.
    — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
  • There is a wardrobe malfunction!
    — Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Dirty shotguns rust, malfunction, and wear out faster than clean guns do.
    — Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, 27 Feb. 2023
  • The wardrobe malfunction doesn't faze her much, because not much does.
    — Tricia Despres, PEOPLE.com, 30 July 2021
  • The disease leads to malfunctions that kill brain cells.
    — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
  • Pumps may malfunction or couplings may crack.
    — Connie Etemadi, Freep.com, 17 Jan. 2026
  • At first Dudley thought there was some sort of malfunction with his bow.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Oct. 2023
  • Harry Styles knows that the show must go on — even with a slight wardrobe malfunction.
    — Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 27 Jan. 2023
  • And no, that doesn’t mean the potential for a wardrobe malfunction.
    — Sam Reed, Glamour, 12 Nov. 2025
  • The wardrobe malfunction left Teigen laughing — and left a few beads on the ground, too.
    — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026
  • It’s almost designed to malfunction when nerves are high.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Ford has not been made aware of any accidents or injuries tied to the malfunction.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 17 June 2026
  • Residents don't just get a yellow flag in their yard when there's a malfunction.
    — Yvette Fernandez, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Watch Driver recall her wardrobe malfunctions in the clip above.
    — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Sorry about the malfunction, guys.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Wardrobe malfunctions of the past are too numerous to mention.
    — Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Imagine being shot out of a cannon, with better views and less risk of a wardrobe malfunction.
    — Laura Parker, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
  • There was a malfunction at the house security gate, and Don got out of the car to fix it.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2023
  • Check here for updates on everything from wait times and long lines to machine malfunctions and more.
    — Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2024
  • Libyan officials said that the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction on the plane.
    — Arkansas Online, 25 Dec. 2025
  • The cape even saved him from people noticing a wardrobe malfunction that occurred later that day.
    — Isiah Magsino, Town & Country, 7 Mar. 2023
  • The cause may be a malfunction in brain regions that regulate sleep, appetite and mood.
    — Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Because countertop ovens rely on high heat, a malfunction when no one is around can pose an even greater risk.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026
  • Because countertop ovens rely on high heat, a malfunction when no one is around can pose an even greater risk.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 13 May 2026
  • Park said, noting her wardrobe malfunction and bursting out laughing.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025
  • Cardi had added a bra under her black Chanel dress just in time to avoid a major wardrobe malfunction.
    — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 26 Nov. 2025
  • Hinkle said sparks from an underground equipment malfunction caused a fire to start.
    — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2022
  • But those distribution malfunctions could have led to fire.
    — Chiara Eisner, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
  • What happens if the AI malfunctions?
    — Fares Ahmad, The Conversation, 20 Nov. 2025
  • The artist had an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction when his pants ripped onstage.
    — Hannah Kerns, Peoplemag, 26 Aug. 2022

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'malfunction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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