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
-
When folding goes wrong, the protein often fails.—
Gerald Bradshaw,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
That’s led to questions about whether the California billionaire activism would continue if Mahan’s governor bid fails and the wealth tax passes.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Just like the children on whom the same administration drops bombs.—
Ciera Bates-Chamberlain,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
That includes the slim Republican majority in Congress, which voted against curbing the president’s ability to unilaterally drop bombs.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This process stalls improvements for years.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
16 Mar. 2026
-
If his progress stalls out, this team is in trouble.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Spring break season is nearing its end, but before students across the country trade their flip flops for books again, a southern spring break staple is about to kick off.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Temperatures are going to be summer-like the next several days in the Philadelphia region, so ditch the coat and replace your wardrobe with shorts, T-shirts and flip flops.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Yet, these authors and their peers such as Naomi Schaefer Riley continually shrink this extraordinarily complex problem to outcomes only — framing broken families in deeply dark narratives of horror, highlighting failures and demanding accountability.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Johnson said the failures cost Stephen Nolte his life.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At the busy lobby bar, those attending the function are easily distinguishable by their tuxedos and ball gowns from hotel guests in their Saturday-night duds.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Too often the Dolphins had to trade away resources to draft positions of need, and often ended up with duds like Liam Eichenberg doing so.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
25 Apr. 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
-
There has been no lesson learned and inadequate spending on infrastructure improvements, which would help prevent future catastrophes.—
Kristine Alessio,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
At the center of that calculation is the Disaster Relief Fund, FEMA's primary account for responding to catastrophes.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfires. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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