mis·fire
ˌmis-ˈfī(-ə)r 
misfired; misfiring; misfires
1
: to have the explosive or propulsive charge fail to ignite at the proper time
the engine misfired
2
: to fail to fire
the gun misfired
3
: to miss an intended effect or objective
the new ad campaign misfired
mis·fire
ˌmis-ˈfī(-ə)r
ˈmis-ˌfī(-ə)r
1
: a failure (as of a cartridge or firearm) to fire
2
: something that misfires
Examples of misfire in a Sentence
Verb
their scheme to rob the bank misfired disastrously and landed them all in jail
Recent Examples on the Web
Dr. Samanta Dall’agnese, CNBC, 13 May 2025
In the wake of Thomas Crooks’s suicidal misfiring at Donald Trump, Brown pleaded guilty to federal crimes.
—Jonathon Sturgeon, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
Gilles Martin, The Conversation, 10 June 2025
Years ago, the cemetery had to walk back a programming misfire involving horror movies.
—Paige Williams, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for misfire
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Verb
Your nighttime anxiety is working overtime Waking up at 3 a.m. and ruminating over past events is often a sign of stress misfiring.
—Dr. Samanta Dall’agnese, CNBC, 13 May 2025
In the wake of Thomas Crooks’s suicidal misfiring at Donald Trump, Brown pleaded guilty to federal crimes.
—Jonathon Sturgeon, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
Noun
Should these neurons misfire, the regulatory system would fail, possibly leading to uncontrolled drinking.
—Gilles Martin, The Conversation, 10 June 2025
Years ago, the cemetery had to walk back a programming misfire involving horror movies.
—Paige Williams, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for misfire
Cite this Entry
“Misfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misfire. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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