Flaw
noun
A mistake, problem, or weakness, especially one that happens while something is being planned or made, or that causes something not to be perfect.
There is a fundamental flaw in the system that needs to be addressed.
Often appears as...
- fundamental flaw
- fatal flaw
noun
A mark, scratch, or other imperfection on a surface, often one that spoils its appearance.
The only flaw in the diamond is a small scratch on its surface.
Often appears as...
- surface flaw
- minor flaw
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To cause something to be not perfect by giving it a flaw.
The script was flawed, but the movie was still entertaining.
Often appears as...
- flawed system
- flawed approach
noun
A mistake, problem, or weakness, especially one that happens while something is being planned or made, or that causes something not to be perfect.
There is a fundamental flaw in the system that needs to be addressed.
Often appears as...
- fundamental flaw
- fatal flaw
noun
A mark, scratch, or other imperfection on a surface, often one that spoils its appearance.
The only flaw in the diamond is a small scratch on its surface.
Often appears as...
- surface flaw
- minor flaw
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To cause something to be not perfect by giving it a flaw.
The script was flawed, but the movie was still entertaining.
Often appears as...
- flawed system
- flawed approach
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3System Imperfection
Refers to errors in structured plans or methods, implying they're not foolproof.
Despite thorough planning, a small flaw can undermine the whole project.
Pro Tip 2/3Connotation of Severity
The term can imply degrees of seriousness, from trivial to critical.
A fundamental flaw in a building's design could lead to its collapse.
Pro Tip 3/3Acknowledgment of Fault
Using 'flaw' indicates awareness of an issue needing correction.
He identified a flaw in his argument and revised his stance.
Pro Tip 1/3System Imperfection
Refers to errors in structured plans or methods, implying they're not foolproof.
Despite thorough planning, a small flaw can undermine the whole project.
Pro Tip 2/3Connotation of Severity
The term can imply degrees of seriousness, from trivial to critical.
A fundamental flaw in a building's design could lead to its collapse.
Pro Tip 3/3Acknowledgment of Fault
Using 'flaw' indicates awareness of an issue needing correction.
He identified a flaw in his argument and revised his stance.
Pro Tip 1/3System Imperfection
Refers to errors in structured plans or methods, implying they're not foolproof.
Despite thorough planning, a small flaw can undermine the whole project.
Pro Tip 2/3Connotation of Severity
The term can imply degrees of seriousness, from trivial to critical.
A fundamental flaw in a building's design could lead to its collapse.
Pro Tip 3/3Acknowledgment of Fault
Using 'flaw' indicates awareness of an issue needing correction.
He identified a flaw in his argument and revised his stance.
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Video examples
What is Zeno's Dichotomy...
It says that traveling from any location to any other location should take an infinite amount of time. In other words, it says that all motion is impossible. This conclusion is clearly absurd, but where is the flaw in the logic? To resolve the paradox, it helps to turn the story into a math problem.
Video examples
Plato’s Allegory of the...
because it can be read in far more ways. Importantly, the allegory is connected to the theory of forms, developed in Plato's other dialogues, which holds that like the shadows on the wall, things in the physical world are flawed reflections of ideal forms,
Video examples
A host of heroes - April...
of course he wins, but he is also human, and so he also dies. But he leaves behind stories to inspire others even today. Next, we have our tragic heroes. Tragic heroes are usually leaders or powerful characters, but the tragic hero is also majorly flawed
Video examples
Can you really tell if a...
One, children only come to tell lies after entering elementary school. Two, children are poor liars. We adults can easily detect their lies. And three, if children lie at a very young age, there must be some character flaws with them,
Video examples
How to recognize a...
imagining a world where certain trends in contemporary society are taken to extremes, exposing their underlying flaws. And the next few centuries would provide plenty of material. Industrial technology that promised to free laborers
Video examples
How to make your writing...
Humor is subjective. Comedy is trial and error. Writing is rewriting. Just keep trying. Find the flaws, discover the details, insert incongruities, incorporate k-words, and remember the most important rule of writing have fun.
Video examples
Tavi Gevinson: A teen...
women are multifaceted -- not because women are crazy, but because people are crazy, and women happen to be people. So the flaws are the key. I'm not the first person to say this. What makes a strong female character
Video examples
“She Does Not Know Her...
my name means I want to be respected she does not know her beauty she thinks her brown skin has too many flaws if she could see her image in the owner of a river where her mother was born she
Video examples
Everything you need to...
in the quest for glory. This constitutes his fatal flaw, or hamartia. His god complex is most clear in the line, "Life and death appear to me ideal bounds which I should first break through
Video examples
Great White Sharks of...
four sharks whose physical flaws grabbed our attention. and helped make them famous.
Video examples
What is Zeno's Dichotomy...
It says that traveling from any location to any other location should take an infinite amount of time. In other words, it says that all motion is impossible. This conclusion is clearly absurd, but where is the flaw in the logic? To resolve the paradox, it helps to turn the story into a math problem.
Video examples
Plato’s Allegory of the...
because it can be read in far more ways. Importantly, the allegory is connected to the theory of forms, developed in Plato's other dialogues, which holds that like the shadows on the wall, things in the physical world are flawed reflections of ideal forms,
Video examples
A host of heroes - April...
of course he wins, but he is also human, and so he also dies. But he leaves behind stories to inspire others even today. Next, we have our tragic heroes. Tragic heroes are usually leaders or powerful characters, but the tragic hero is also majorly flawed
Video examples
Can you really tell if a...
One, children only come to tell lies after entering elementary school. Two, children are poor liars. We adults can easily detect their lies. And three, if children lie at a very young age, there must be some character flaws with them,
Video examples
How to recognize a...
imagining a world where certain trends in contemporary society are taken to extremes, exposing their underlying flaws. And the next few centuries would provide plenty of material. Industrial technology that promised to free laborers
Video examples
How to make your writing...
Humor is subjective. Comedy is trial and error. Writing is rewriting. Just keep trying. Find the flaws, discover the details, insert incongruities, incorporate k-words, and remember the most important rule of writing have fun.
Video examples
Tavi Gevinson: A teen...
women are multifaceted -- not because women are crazy, but because people are crazy, and women happen to be people. So the flaws are the key. I'm not the first person to say this. What makes a strong female character
Video examples
“She Does Not Know Her...
my name means I want to be respected she does not know her beauty she thinks her brown skin has too many flaws if she could see her image in the owner of a river where her mother was born she
Video examples
Everything you need to...
in the quest for glory. This constitutes his fatal flaw, or hamartia. His god complex is most clear in the line, "Life and death appear to me ideal bounds which I should first break through
Video examples
Great White Sharks of...
four sharks whose physical flaws grabbed our attention. and helped make them famous.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Drew Barrymore
American Actress
The low points I had all helped make up my character, so I probably wouldn't want to do away with them because I like being flawed and I like having them help me grow and change and become better and stronger.
Quote examples
Barack Obama
American President
But what we can do, as flawed as we are, is still see God in other people, and do our best to help them find their own grace. That's what I strive to do, that's what I pray to do every day.
Quote examples
Nicolas Cage
Actor
I don't want a perfect character, I want a character who has, as strange as it sounds, some humanity, some flaws, some needs.
Quote examples
Lyndon B. Johnson
American President
The fact that a man is a newspaper reporter is evidence of some flaw of character.
Quote examples
Lady Gaga
American Singer
I allow myself to fail. I allow myself to break. I'm not afraid of my flaws.
Quote examples
Paul Wesley
American Actor
I look for characters that are extremely flawed and the anti-hero.
Quote examples
Naseeruddin Shah
Indian Actor
Playing the good guy is boring. I love twisted, flawed characters.
Quote examples
Sarah Shahi
American Actress
I'm attracted to playing characters that have flaws.
Quote examples
Kate Bush
British Musician
I think it's important that things are flawed.
Quote examples
Kenneth Lonergan
American Playwright
It's not a character flaw to become an adult.
Quote examples
Drew Barrymore
American Actress
The low points I had all helped make up my character, so I probably wouldn't want to do away with them because I like being flawed and I like having them help me grow and change and become better and stronger.
Quote examples
Barack Obama
American President
But what we can do, as flawed as we are, is still see God in other people, and do our best to help them find their own grace. That's what I strive to do, that's what I pray to do every day.
Quote examples
Nicolas Cage
Actor
I don't want a perfect character, I want a character who has, as strange as it sounds, some humanity, some flaws, some needs.
Quote examples
Lyndon B. Johnson
American President
The fact that a man is a newspaper reporter is evidence of some flaw of character.
Quote examples
Lady Gaga
American Singer
I allow myself to fail. I allow myself to break. I'm not afraid of my flaws.
Quote examples
Paul Wesley
American Actor
I look for characters that are extremely flawed and the anti-hero.
Quote examples
Naseeruddin Shah
Indian Actor
Playing the good guy is boring. I love twisted, flawed characters.
Quote examples
Sarah Shahi
American Actress
I'm attracted to playing characters that have flaws.
Quote examples
Kate Bush
British Musician
I think it's important that things are flawed.
Quote examples
Kenneth Lonergan
American Playwright
It's not a character flaw to become an adult.
Example 1 of 10
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