as in fails
to go wrong
their scheme to rob the bank misfired disastrously and landed them all in jail
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of misfires
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
To begin with, the company’s unprovoked faceplant was, if nothing else, one of the biggest public relations misfires in recent corporate history.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Trump takes control of Washington police as liberal anchor's superhero mockery misfires.
—FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
In short, Nix often grounds his feet into the turf when he's afforded a clean pocket, doesn't appear to generate much momentum, and misfires because of it.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
To begin with, the company’s unprovoked faceplant was, if nothing else, one of the biggest public relations misfires in recent corporate history.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Trump takes control of Washington police as liberal anchor's superhero mockery misfires.
—FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfires
Verb
-
The state alleged that Amazon doesn’t go far enough to find reasonable accommodations for employees upon request and fails to consider whether a different accommodation or work location would be a match for an employee who is pregnant or has a disability.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
27 Oct. 2025
-
If Washington fails to even mildly improve relations with Brazil, India, and South Africa, Beijing and Moscow will toast their good luck.—
Richard Fontaine,
Foreign Affairs,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Russians had already been converting Soviet-era bombs into glide munitions with a range of some 80 kilometers (50 miles), allowing aircraft to fire them while staying well clear of Ukrainian air defenses.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
-
His cookbook has recipes for flavor bombs like Ginger Ponzu Sauce, Magic Sauce and Sweet Garlic Teriyaki Sauce (click here to jump to the recipes below).—
Malaka Gharib,
NPR,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There is often community resistance that stalls the building of homes.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
-
But, then again, the market is a forward-looking machine with a motor that never stalls out.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Blasena emphasizes that lighting and draping that eliminates unsightly walls can make a space feel intimate, while a focal bar, signature cocktails, a photo booth, and late-night tchotchkes, such as glow sticks, flashing glasses, and flip flops, can amp up the atmosphere.—
Shelby Wax,
Vogue,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Flip flops are discouraged as well.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Here are three studs and three duds from the 2025 ALCS.—
Tim Crowley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Here were the studs and duds of a vintage 49ers performance.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For decades, conservation organizations have been working to restore oyster populations in the bay, accruing data along the way to learn from successes and failures.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
-
But like all investments, there are risks, and Ng has had some spooky failures.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The storm also left people trapped in seven vehicles on nearby roads after overflowing creeks caused washouts, deputies said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The agency expects to hire 8,900 new air traffic controllers by 2028, but because of factors like attrition, retirements and program washouts, this will only result in 1,000 more certified controllers, according to FAA documents.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Montana Jordan misses the fatherly presence of costar Lance Barber's character on set.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
-
But to be fully mired in the morose misses the positive aspects of this season, and this team.—
Quentin Corpuel,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Misfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfires. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share