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

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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

Elsewhere on the weekend’s box office leaderboards, the independent Christian outfit Angel Studios misfired with Runner, a thriller starring Alan Ritchson as a former soldier racing to save a child’s life as a drug cartel closes in. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Sep. 2026 In every one of those three games, Young has misfired for two interceptions and thrown for somewhere between 146 and 161 yards as Carolina scored exactly 10 points. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2026

Noun

Ford stated in its filing that in come cases a driver may experience a Check Engine Light, engine noise, or misfire as a warning that the engine piston dome may malfunction and cut power. — Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Post-Saban, a string of Dolphins misfire hires — Cam Cameron, Tony Sparano, Joe Philbin, Adam Gase, Brian Flores and McDaniel — all failed to end the playoff-win drought. — Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for misfire

Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfire

Verb

The three-stage rocket failed during its debut mission in October 2021 but is now riding a streak of four straight successes.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2026
The financial troubles are especially concerning because the Los Angeles Unified School District has failed to meet past budget reduction targets, the report concluded, and the stakes have become higher, with solutions more painful to carry out.

— Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of fail

Noun

The top prize there was awarded to The Lake, directed by Abby Ellis, a film exploring the environmental catastrophe posed by the rapidly shrinking Great Salt Lake in Utah.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026
Mahomes’ rapid recovery from last year’s ACL/LCL catastrophe is great news for Kansas City fans and the NFL’s TV/streaming partners, as he and the Chiefs are slated to pop up in as many as 12 national windows before the playoffs arrive.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of catastrophe

Noun

Three children were among those killed when Russian aerial bombs hit residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said Saturday.

— Matthew Daly, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Months of American and Israeli bombs have damaged the country’s industries and infrastructure, spiking unemployment and pushing more Iranians into poverty.

— Narges Bajoghli, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of bomb

Verb

Gowanus Green, as shown in this rendering, is planned to be 100 percent affordable, but construction stalled due to disagreements over cleanup standards.

— Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2026
Equinix and Digital Realty Trust, data center developers that trade as REITs, have fared well longer-term, though their shares have stalled in the period since the BXDC launch.

— Kevin Williams, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of stall

Noun

Completed in 1919, the hospital was a flop, as only 33 veterans -- of 30,000 contacted -- expressed interest in care.

— Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
The infamous stage musical adaptation of Stephen King’s novel about a telekinetic high schooler was a massive Broadway flop in 1988 but has been redeemed by steady community and college theater productions over the decades since.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of flop

Noun

The installation at the military’s oldest active test base would help shield critical defense operations from wider grid failures.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
After he was released from the hospital, 22-year-old Nicholas James Stedeford-Aaron was arrested and charged with driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger and failure to move over for emergency vehicles with injury.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 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 12 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of misfire

verb

noun

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