A microelectromechanical switch comprising: a signal line comprising each of an input port and an output port, the signal line formed on a substrate between a first ground plane and a second ground plane formed on the substrate; a primary deflectable beam (210, 1710) having a first end, a second end, and a deflectable middle portion between the first and second ends, the first end supported by a first post formed over the first ground plane, the second end supported by a second post formed over the second ground plane, and the middle portion of the primary deflectable beam positioned over at least a portion of the input port and at least a portion of the output port, whereby the deflectable middle portion contacts each of the input port and output port when deflected downward; one or more defected ground structures(1731, 1732, 1733, 1734) formed in each of the first ground plane and the second ground plane; for each defected ground structure, a corresponding secondary deflectable beam (1741, 1742, 1743, 1744) positioned over the defected ground structure (1731, 1732, 1733, 1734); a first actuator coupled to the primary deflectable beam and configured to apply a first bias voltage to the primary deflectable beam, whereby the first bias voltage causes the primary deflectable beam to deflect downward toward the signal line; and a second actuator coupled to each of the one or more secondary deflectable beams (1741, 1742, 1743, 1744) and configured to apply a second bias voltage to each of the secondary deflectable beams (1741, 1742, 1743, 1744), whereby the second bias voltage causes each secondary deflectable beam (1741, 1742, 1743, 1744) to deflect downward toward its corresponding defected ground structure (1731, 1732, 1733, 1734). a signal line comprising each of an input port and an output port, the signal line formed on a substrate between a first ground plane and a second ground plane formed on the substrate; a primary deflectable beam (210, 1710) having a first end, a second end, and a deflectable middle portion between the first and second ends, the first end supported by a first post formed over the first ground plane, the second end supported by a second post formed over the second ground plane, and the middle portion of the primary deflectable beam positioned over at least a portion of the input port and at least a portion of the output port, whereby the deflectable middle portion contacts each of the input port and output port when deflected downward; one or more defected ground structures(1731, 1732, 1733, 1734) formed in each of the first ground plane and the second ground plane; for each defected ground structure, a corresponding secondary deflectable beam (1741, 1742, 1743, 1744) positioned over the defected ground structure (1731, 1732, 1733, 1734); a first actuator coupled to the primary deflectable beam and configured to apply a first bias voltage to the primary deflectable beam, whereby the first bias voltage causes the primary deflectable beam to deflect downward toward the signal line; and a second actuator coupled to each of the one or more secondary deflectable beams (1741, 1742, 1743, 1744) and configured to apply a second bias voltage to each of the secondary deflectable beams (1741, 1742, 1743, 1744), whereby the second bias voltage causes each secondary deflectable beam (1741, 1742, 1743, 1744) to deflect downward toward its corresponding defected ground structure (1731, 1732, 1733, 1734).