The phrase "defective years" refers to a period of time in which something is flawed or malfunctioning. Synonyms for this phrase include "troubled years," "faulty years," "imperfect years," "deficient years," and "impaired years." These words all indicate that something was not working as it should during a specific period of time. Whether used to describe personal experiences or broader societal issues, these synonyms convey a sense of difficulty and struggle that often accompanies times of malfunction or error. By using these alternatives to "defective years," writers and speakers can add variety to their language while conveying the same basic meaning.