as in fails
to go wrong
their scheme to rob the bank misfired disastrously and landed them all in jail
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Recent Examples of misfires
Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Sig Sauer faces a class action suit over claims that its P320 pistol misfires.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
And research into why the brain misfires.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
That optimism may be a bit misguided, considering the history of emerging sports league misfires.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
The brain misfires on what feels charged or taboo.
—Peter White, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2026
As Wiener, the show’s curator, walks me through, her narration inevitably turns into a litany of the artist’s almosts, misfires, and losses.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 Feb. 2026
There were issues with intake manifold leaks, exhaust manifold cracking, coolant leaks, engine misfires due to corrosion, and water in the spark plug holes.
—John Paul, The Providence Journal, 9 Jan. 2026
In a bid to make Curtis jealous, Castor brings home from the nightclub the 20something Omar for an overnight hookup, but that misfires spectacularly.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025
Verb
But the Raiders organization is rife with quarterback misfires in its recent history.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Sig Sauer faces a class action suit over claims that its P320 pistol misfires.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026
And research into why the brain misfires.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
That optimism may be a bit misguided, considering the history of emerging sports league misfires.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
The brain misfires on what feels charged or taboo.
—Peter White, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2026
As Wiener, the show’s curator, walks me through, her narration inevitably turns into a litany of the artist’s almosts, misfires, and losses.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 Feb. 2026
There were issues with intake manifold leaks, exhaust manifold cracking, coolant leaks, engine misfires due to corrosion, and water in the spark plug holes.
—John Paul, The Providence Journal, 9 Jan. 2026
In a bid to make Curtis jealous, Castor brings home from the nightclub the 20something Omar for an overnight hookup, but that misfires spectacularly.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfires
Verb
-
The project honors Monroe, but sees her, first and almost exclusively, as a victim, one who Eddie Redmayne’s gentle production assistant tries and fails to save.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
1 June 2026
-
If, however, the discount fails to attract more customers, the retailer stands to lose money.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Universal spent far more than usual to guarantee the security of screenings, assuming responsibility for damages, hiring guards to escort every print of the film, and sweeping movie theatres for bombs.—
Isaac Butler,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
-
Several hours later, troopers, including some on horseback, deployed heavy riot control tactics, including noise bombs, tear gas grenades, pepper spray and riot shields in an attempt to disperse the mob.—
Preston Mizell,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Not stalls the standard 12-by-12 feet of other ranches but 14 feet square to give horses more room to move around naturally.—
Nielsen Dinwoodie,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
This process stalls improvements for years.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the century since its debut, Yoo-hoo endured its own beverage flops.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
Flip-flops are an obvious summer staple, but Hadid’s black leather pair is such a versatile pick.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Canepa has accused Irizarry of running a toxic workplace and argued that a recent $20 million property tax refund settlement with Genentech highlights the department’s failures.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
-
Investigators examined whether the accident was caused by anchoring failures or equipment malfunction.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Perhaps the biggest duds of this campaign season have been San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
31 May 2026
-
But against Oklahoma City in the West finals, Randle had two massive duds in the only two non-blowouts in the series.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
Just after a third pregnancy also miscarries, Aje meets a young woman named Mayra in a hospital waiting room and the two get talking.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Noun
-
The California manufacture has unveiled a beastly off-roader that can be kitted out to protect you from any pending world-wide catastrophes.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
30 May 2026
-
The catastrophes are not hypothetical.—
Shlomit Wagman,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfires. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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