Antonyms for the phrase "be in working order" include dysfunctional, broken, defective, damaged, faulty, unusable, out of order, and nonfunctional. These terms suggest that something is not functioning as it was designed to or is unable to perform its intended task. For example, a broken washing machine is incapable of cleaning clothes, while a defective phone cannot make calls. In contrast, when something is in working order, it is operational and functioning correctly. These antonyms are frequently used in various contexts, including technology, machines, and other mechanical systems, to describe their state of operation.