flawed
adj.having a mistake, mark, or weakness that stops something from being perfect. You use it to describe an idea, object, or person that has a problem.
adj.characterised by a defect, error, or imperfection. Often used to describe abstract concepts like logic or arguments, as well as physical objects.
“The diamond is beautiful but slightly flawed.”
“The scientist admitted that the initial study was flawed because the sample size was too small to be accurate.”
“While the protagonist's intentions are noble, his flawed nature leads him to make a series of catastrophic decisions that ultimately alienate his closest allies.”
Often modified by degree adverbs such as 'deeply', 'fundamentally', or 'fatally'.
“Kubiak says that this had been down to flawed designs, and that manufacturers had since addressed concerns.”
“Suryawanshi and his colleagues at the Snow Leopard Trust bitterly opposed the move, arguing that the decision was based on flawed science and driven by the political considerations of large NGOs in the west.”
Common in sport writing
From Middle English flaued, equivalent to flaw + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.