Imperfect
adjective
Something that is not perfect, has faults or mistakes.
The painting was beautiful despite its imperfect depiction of reality.
Often appears as...
- imperfect system
- imperfect conditions
noun
A verb tense used to describe a past action that is not finished or completed.
In the sentence 'I was studying when you called me', 'was studying' is in the imperfect tense.
Often appears as...
- imperfect tense
- imperfect verb
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
In music, an imperfect cadence is one which does not end on the tonic note.
The sonata concluded in an exhilarating rush of imperfect harmony.
Often appears as...
- imperfect cadence
- imperfect harmony
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Something that is not perfect, has faults or mistakes.
The painting was beautiful despite its imperfect depiction of reality.
Often appears as...
- imperfect system
- imperfect conditions
noun
A verb tense used to describe a past action that is not finished or completed.
In the sentence 'I was studying when you called me', 'was studying' is in the imperfect tense.
Often appears as...
- imperfect tense
- imperfect verb
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
In music, an imperfect cadence is one which does not end on the tonic note.
The sonata concluded in an exhilarating rush of imperfect harmony.
Often appears as...
- imperfect cadence
- imperfect harmony
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Common Overuse
Avoid using 'imperfect' too frequently as a crutch for criticism; it can become repetitive.
Instead of saying 'your work is imperfect,' offer specific feedback.
Pro Tip 2/3Positive Spin
'Imperfect' sometimes highlights uniqueness or character, not just errors or flaws.
His imperfect grin was charming and made his smile unforgettable.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Negative
Remember that 'imperfect' doesn't always imply something is bad or undesirable.
The quilt was imperfect but held great sentimental value.
Pro Tip 1/3Common Overuse
Avoid using 'imperfect' too frequently as a crutch for criticism; it can become repetitive.
Instead of saying 'your work is imperfect,' offer specific feedback.
Pro Tip 2/3Positive Spin
'Imperfect' sometimes highlights uniqueness or character, not just errors or flaws.
His imperfect grin was charming and made his smile unforgettable.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Negative
Remember that 'imperfect' doesn't always imply something is bad or undesirable.
The quilt was imperfect but held great sentimental value.
Pro Tip 1/3Common Overuse
Avoid using 'imperfect' too frequently as a crutch for criticism; it can become repetitive.
Instead of saying 'your work is imperfect,' offer specific feedback.
Pro Tip 2/3Positive Spin
'Imperfect' sometimes highlights uniqueness or character, not just errors or flaws.
His imperfect grin was charming and made his smile unforgettable.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Negative
Remember that 'imperfect' doesn't always imply something is bad or undesirable.
The quilt was imperfect but held great sentimental value.
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Video examples
Gary Haugen: The hidden...
with excellent law enforcement, so it's about pulling that all together, and you can actually have people in very poor communities experience law enforcement like us, which is imperfect in our own experience, for sure, but boy, is it a great thing to sense that you can call 911 and maybe someone will protect you.
Video examples
LA92 Panel - Live PIPE...
really what the future of the country is all that talk about autocratic rule I know but I'm gonna get into too much politics here but all that talk about autocratic rule I think we have to really want ask some deep questions about what are we willing to do to protect democracy even the imperfect
Video examples
The power of vulnerabilit...
with your whole heart. And so these folks had, very simply, the courage to be imperfect. They had the compassion to be kind to themselves first and then to others, because, as it turns out, we can't practice compassion with other people if we can't treat ourselves kindly.
Video examples
Plato’s best (and worst)...
But even one of the founders of philosophy wasn't perfect. Along with his great ideas, Plato had a few that haven't exactly stood the test of time. So here are brief rundowns of a few of his best and worst ideas. Plato argued that beyond our imperfect world
Video examples
Ken Goldberg: 4 lessons...
Now we take those human demonstrations -- they're all noisy and imperfect -- and we extract from them an inferred task trajectory and control sequence for the robot. We then execute that on the robot, we observe what happens, then we adjust the controls,
Video examples
Would you opt for a life...
whether pleasurable or painful? Do you yourself have more value when you're experiencing real life's pleasures and pains? Nozick's experiment may not provide all the answers, but it forces us to consider whether real life, though imperfect,
Video examples
Do we really need...
impact wildlife, and even harm us. So considering all these risks, why do we continue using pesticides? Although they're imperfect, they currently may be our best bet against major agricultural disasters,
Video examples
Best Moments of 2018 PIPE...
what's cool about motor learning things is actually there fish eating penguins these are healthy birds but not all of the eggs come out the same size and some had imperfect shells so before they
Video examples
Teach girls bravery, not...
in the off chance that she can save her daddy's life because he has cancer. These are just three examples of thousands, thousands of girls who have been socialized to be imperfect,
Video examples
The impact of Simón...
harshest of terrains took his armies over impossibly high mountains without any preparation whatsoever in surprise attacks he was also a highly imperfect man he
Video examples
Gary Haugen: The hidden...
with excellent law enforcement, so it's about pulling that all together, and you can actually have people in very poor communities experience law enforcement like us, which is imperfect in our own experience, for sure, but boy, is it a great thing to sense that you can call 911 and maybe someone will protect you.
Video examples
LA92 Panel - Live PIPE...
really what the future of the country is all that talk about autocratic rule I know but I'm gonna get into too much politics here but all that talk about autocratic rule I think we have to really want ask some deep questions about what are we willing to do to protect democracy even the imperfect
Video examples
The power of vulnerabilit...
with your whole heart. And so these folks had, very simply, the courage to be imperfect. They had the compassion to be kind to themselves first and then to others, because, as it turns out, we can't practice compassion with other people if we can't treat ourselves kindly.
Video examples
Plato’s best (and worst)...
But even one of the founders of philosophy wasn't perfect. Along with his great ideas, Plato had a few that haven't exactly stood the test of time. So here are brief rundowns of a few of his best and worst ideas. Plato argued that beyond our imperfect world
Video examples
Ken Goldberg: 4 lessons...
Now we take those human demonstrations -- they're all noisy and imperfect -- and we extract from them an inferred task trajectory and control sequence for the robot. We then execute that on the robot, we observe what happens, then we adjust the controls,
Video examples
Would you opt for a life...
whether pleasurable or painful? Do you yourself have more value when you're experiencing real life's pleasures and pains? Nozick's experiment may not provide all the answers, but it forces us to consider whether real life, though imperfect,
Video examples
Do we really need...
impact wildlife, and even harm us. So considering all these risks, why do we continue using pesticides? Although they're imperfect, they currently may be our best bet against major agricultural disasters,
Video examples
Best Moments of 2018 PIPE...
what's cool about motor learning things is actually there fish eating penguins these are healthy birds but not all of the eggs come out the same size and some had imperfect shells so before they
Video examples
Teach girls bravery, not...
in the off chance that she can save her daddy's life because he has cancer. These are just three examples of thousands, thousands of girls who have been socialized to be imperfect,
Video examples
The impact of Simón...
harshest of terrains took his armies over impossibly high mountains without any preparation whatsoever in surprise attacks he was also a highly imperfect man he
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Emmeline Pankhurst
English Activist
Often I have heard the taunt that suffragists are women who have failed to find any normal outlet for their emotions, and are therefore soured and disappointed beings. This is probably not true of any suffragist, and it is most certainly not true of me. My home life and relations have been as nearly ideal as possible in this imperfect world.
Quote examples
Brene Brown
American Author
I'm not a parenting expert. In fact, I'm not sure that I even believe in the idea of 'parenting experts.' I'm an engaged, imperfect parent and a passionate researcher. I'm an experienced mapmaker and a stumbling traveler. Like many of you, parenting is by far my boldest and most daring adventure.
Quote examples
Alice Walker
American Author
It is justice and respect that I want the world to dust off and put - without delay, and with tenderness - back on the head of the Palestinian child. It will be imperfect justice and respect because the injustice and disrespect have been so severe. But I believe we are right to try.
Quote examples
Joseph Franklin Rutherford
American Clergyman
If you are kept in ignorance of the true way and permit yourself to rely upon and be guided by the opinion of imperfect man, you can never gain the riches that will bring you peace and lasting happiness.
Quote examples
Jake Sullivan
American Public Servant
Public policy is a study in imperfection. It involves imperfect people, with imperfect information, facing deeply imperfect choices - so it's not surprising that they're getting imperfect results.
Quote examples
Hermann Hesse
German Novelist
The world is not imperfect or slowly evolving along a path to perfection. No, it is perfect at every moment, every sin already carries grace in it.
Quote examples
John Ruskin
English Writer
It seems a fantastic paradox, but it is nevertheless a most important truth, that no architecture can be truly noble which is not imperfect.
Quote examples
Eustace Budgell
English Writer
Love and esteem are the first principles of friendship; it is always imperfect if either of these two are wanting.
Quote examples
Joyce Meyer
American Author
We live in an imperfect world, and imperfect people surround us every day.
Quote examples
Anne Bronte
British Novelist
There is always a 'but' in this imperfect world.
Quote examples
Emmeline Pankhurst
English Activist
Often I have heard the taunt that suffragists are women who have failed to find any normal outlet for their emotions, and are therefore soured and disappointed beings. This is probably not true of any suffragist, and it is most certainly not true of me. My home life and relations have been as nearly ideal as possible in this imperfect world.
Quote examples
Brene Brown
American Author
I'm not a parenting expert. In fact, I'm not sure that I even believe in the idea of 'parenting experts.' I'm an engaged, imperfect parent and a passionate researcher. I'm an experienced mapmaker and a stumbling traveler. Like many of you, parenting is by far my boldest and most daring adventure.
Quote examples
Alice Walker
American Author
It is justice and respect that I want the world to dust off and put - without delay, and with tenderness - back on the head of the Palestinian child. It will be imperfect justice and respect because the injustice and disrespect have been so severe. But I believe we are right to try.
Quote examples
Joseph Franklin Rutherford
American Clergyman
If you are kept in ignorance of the true way and permit yourself to rely upon and be guided by the opinion of imperfect man, you can never gain the riches that will bring you peace and lasting happiness.
Quote examples
Jake Sullivan
American Public Servant
Public policy is a study in imperfection. It involves imperfect people, with imperfect information, facing deeply imperfect choices - so it's not surprising that they're getting imperfect results.
Quote examples
Hermann Hesse
German Novelist
The world is not imperfect or slowly evolving along a path to perfection. No, it is perfect at every moment, every sin already carries grace in it.
Quote examples
John Ruskin
English Writer
It seems a fantastic paradox, but it is nevertheless a most important truth, that no architecture can be truly noble which is not imperfect.
Quote examples
Eustace Budgell
English Writer
Love and esteem are the first principles of friendship; it is always imperfect if either of these two are wanting.
Quote examples
Joyce Meyer
American Author
We live in an imperfect world, and imperfect people surround us every day.
Quote examples
Anne Bronte
British Novelist
There is always a 'but' in this imperfect world.
Example 1 of 10
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