MISFIRE Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

misfire 1 of 2

verb

ˌmis-ˈfī(-ə)r

Definition of misfire

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

misfire

2 of 2

noun

as in catastrophe

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 misfire

Verb

Even classic color duos can misfire if they’re not thought through. — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2026 Brunson rose for a deep three-pointer that misfired, but Anunoby weaved through traffic and tipped the ball in for a one-point lead to secure the win. — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026

Noun

There was a lot of concern about celebrity intrusions taking the focus off the players and game, and the Zac Brown misfire was everything fans feared and then some. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026 Officials confirmed a misfire without providing details. — ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for misfire

Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfire

Verb

Merrill went 0 for 5 on his bobblehead night, striking out on three pitches with the bases loaded in both the eighth and 11th, and also failed to make a diving catch on Flores' RBI double.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
But ordinary Iranians also turn to cryptocurrency as a way to opt out of a failing system.

— Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of fail

Noun

That tension between catastrophe for humanity and recovery for nature runs all the way to the ending.

— Solitaire Townsend, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
The first step in averting this spiral toward catastrophe is for both Beijing and Washington to bear in mind that these economic tools were not designed as weapons.

— GLORIA XIONG, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of catastrophe

Verb

The Cincinnati Bengals player, 31, and his wife announced in a joint Instagram post on Friday, July 17, that their baby, a boy, miscarried at 16 weeks.

— Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026
Two years later, in May 2025, Andrews recorded an emotional episode on the same day her surrogate miscarried.

— Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of miscarry

Noun

The violence primarily involved small bombs, arson and other forms of property damage.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Woods threw for three touchdowns — one to Zachariah Jean-Bart for a 63-yard catch and run, a 35-yard bomb to Zion Siler, and a 21-yarder to Jaiziah Battle.

— Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of bomb

Verb

More news Endangered mountain lions are stalling a plan to build 400 residences on Woodland Hills golf course.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Braxton Jones started and was flagged for a holding penalty on the first series, which ultimately stalled the drive.

— Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of stall

Noun

But Bama followed with a 38-3 quarterfinal flop to Indiana, erasing any momentum and placing DeBoer squarely under the microscope entering a pivotal third season.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
But at the time, the latter was a major flop that was panned by notable critics such as Pauline Kael.

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of flop

Noun

Though the reason for Marte’s initial absence remains unknown publicly — the Diamondbacks were so blindsided by it that he was scratched only minutes before Monday’s game — the team seemed eager to move on from the fiasco.

— Marc Carig, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Legal disputes and financial chaos have made the LAX people mover a construction fiasco, raising doubts about when it will ever be finished.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of fiasco

Noun

The failures resulted in a divorce during the offseason and this exhibition game at Hard Rock Stadium was the first time the couple happened to be at the same place at the same time since the split.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
For five months, these players have underperformed, much to the chagrin of their front offices and the fans, who repeatedly boo their failures.

— Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of failure

Browse Nearby Words

misfeasors

misfire

misfired

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Style

“Misfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfire. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of misfire

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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