as in to fail
to go wrong
their scheme to rob the bank misfired disastrously and landed them all in jail
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in catastrophe
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of misfire
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 11 Jan. 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
Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 25 Nov. 2025
By Deborah Brennan, CalMatters California lawmakers are demanding answers after a live fire demonstration over Camp Pendleton Saturday led to a misfire that rained shrapnel on Interstate 5, striking two California Highway Patrol vehicles.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misfire
Verb
Even if the Rams had scored with, say, 90 seconds to go instead of 38 seconds, because a blitz misfired, at least Carolina would have had time to try for a tying field goal and send the game into OT.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 11 Jan. 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
Noun
Bill Self had seen enough after watching sophomore big man Flory Bidunga misfire on three inside shots and also fail to prevent a pair of inside buckets in the early moments of Kansas’ Players Era opener against Notre Dame on Monday at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 25 Nov. 2025
By Deborah Brennan, CalMatters California lawmakers are demanding answers after a live fire demonstration over Camp Pendleton Saturday led to a misfire that rained shrapnel on Interstate 5, striking two California Highway Patrol vehicles.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misfire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfire
Verb
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Israel’s government has repeatedly criticized its counterpart in Australia for failing to address antisemitic attacks in the country.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Zimmerman also argued that the trial attorneys failed to hire experts to testify on Serafini’s behalf in the trial, and that Dratman did not provide much of a defense in his closing argument.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Just hours after bombs began raining down on Oahu, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, two FBI agents arrived unannounced at Nikki Nojima Louis’ home in Seattle’s Japantown.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
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The contract covers both complete bombs in the All-Up-Round configuration and individual tail kits.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The standard of care for miscarrying patients in the second trimester, for example, is to offer to empty the uterus, which can lower the risk of infection and sepsis, according to leading medical organizations.—
Cassandra Jaramillo,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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Cillíní were reserved for babies who were stillborn, miscarried, or died at birth without having been baptized.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Though, this being New Zealand, the flip flops may still go down just fine.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
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With around $40 million stateside, and another $40 million internationally, the film appears poised to break Hollywood's string of box office flops as the industry continues to fret over the increasingly dire economics of theatrical releases.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Once met with only mild pushback, solar projects are now increasingly entangled in the same policy fights that have long stalled wind development across the country.—
Suhail Bhat,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
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The pandemic and the need for funds for a larger expedition temporarily stalled a return to the area.—
Matthew Glasser,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This, if possible, blows up in her face even more spectacularly than the brunch fiasco.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
17 Feb. 2026
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Specifically, his fiasco of a presidential campaign.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Chatham County Police Department is investigating the crash and has charged Vasquez Lopez with reckless driving, driving without a valid license, failure to obey a traffic control device, and first-degree homicide by vehicle, the agency shared online.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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As such, a cybersecurity failure in the F-35 program would be a serious breach that could jeopardize the integrity of planned and upcoming missions.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There is no major washout or concern for burn scar areas.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
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This comes amid a debate on the right over what themes to stress to avoid a GOP washout in November.—
The Wall Street Journal,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfire. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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