malfunctioned
Stopped working properly
Malfunctioned is the past tense of malfunction—to fail to work correctly.
Machines, systems, and body parts malfunction when they don't perform as designed: The engine malfunctioned mid-flight.
Something malfunctioned in his brain.
The word implies a breakdown in normal operation rather than complete failure.
Suddenly failed or slept
- stalledStopped unexpectedly
- seizedTook suddenly, forcefully
- frozeBecame solid or still
- shutdownCessation of operations
overheated · failed · collapsed · halted · stopped · died · quit · gave out
Irritated or surveilled
- flickeredShone unsteadily, intermittently
- stutteredSpoke with involuntary repetitions
- laggedFell behind others
- jitteredTrembled from anxiety
spiked · skipped · hiccupped · blipped · glitched · distorted · corrupted · scrambled
Held accountable for error
- misfiredFailed to discharge properly
- failedDid not succeed
- erroredEncountered a malfunction
- abortedEnded before completion
miscalculated · misread · misprocessed · corrupted · bugged · crashed · exception · invalid
Having defects or errors
- flawedHaving faults or imperfections
- defectiveHaving inherent faults
- brokenDamaged beyond function
- damagedMade worse by injury
compromised · impaired · degraded · worn out · deteriorated · corroded · failed · unsound
Crumbly or unreliable
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- intermittentOccurring at irregular intervals
- sporadicOccurring irregularly, infrequently
inconsistent · unpredictable · unstable · finicky · quirky · hit-or-miss · patchy · unsteady
crashed
Suddenly failed or slept
shutdown · overheated · failed · collapsed · halted · stopped · died · quit · gave out · conked out
bugged
Irritated or surveilled
- flickeredShone unsteadily, intermittently
- stutteredSpoke with involuntary repetitions
- laggedFell behind others
jittered · spiked · skipped · hiccupped · blipped · glitched · distorted · corrupted · scrambled · pixelated
faulted
Held accountable for error
aborted · miscalculated · misread · misprocessed · corrupted · bugged · crashed · exception · invalid · snafu
faulty
Having defects or errors
damaged · compromised · impaired · degraded · worn out · deteriorated · corroded · failed · unsound · out of order
flaky
Crumbly or unreliable
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
- intermittentOccurring at irregular intervals
sporadic · inconsistent · unpredictable · unstable · finicky · quirky · hit-or-miss · patchy · unsteady · fitful
malfunctionedworked
Performed labor or tasks
functioned · operated · performed · ran · clicked
malfunctionedsucceeded
Achieved desired outcome
delivered · came through · held up · worked out · worked
- wardrobe malfunctionsAccidental revealing garment failures
- costume malfunctionUnintended clothing failure
- machine malfunctionEquipment failing unexpectedly
- malfunction junctionTroublesome convergence point