View synonyms for

dysfunctional

[ dis-fuhngk-shuh-nl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

not performing normally, as an organ or structure of the body; malfunctioning.
having a malfunctioning part or element:
It is hard to get bills through a dysfunctional congress.
behaving or acting outside social norms:
All the siblings in their extremely dysfunctional family lost contact as adults.

dysfunctional

/ ��ɪ��ˈ��ʌŋ��ʃə��ə�� /

adjective

med (of an organ or part) not functioning normally
(esp of a family) characterized by a breakdown of normal or beneficial relationships between members of the group

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Other Word Forms

��·�ڳܲԳ�t��ǲ�·��·�� adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of dysfunctional¹

First recorded in 1910–15; dysfunction ( def ) + -al ¹( def )

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But within 24 hours, the Al Qaeda attacks turn the Husseins from an average dysfunctional family with unfortunate names into a suspected terror cell.

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The government lifted this moratorium in March this year, citing the need to remove "traitors" from the nation's dysfunctional army.

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The Justice Department’s push for the death penalty shows it has “moved from the dysfunctional to the barbaric.”

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Brooke Hogan — the actor and reality-star daughter of Hulk Hogan and his first wife, Linda — accused her parents of abuse Wednesday after her mom posted a video of herself sobbing over her dysfunctional family.

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But in fact, the two parties’ dysfunctional relationship around energy has a long history.

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Related Words

flawed

dysfunction dysgenesis

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