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
Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
After failing to score on the last 22 chances in the regular season, the Sabres have misfired on their first 13 man advantages in the series, including four Thursday.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Three years of growth and dedicated time to the craft of basketball counteracted one solitary misfire.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misfire
Verb
And in 2022, after a man pointed a gun at Argentina’s then-Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner that misfired, Argentinians accused the ruling party of staging the incident to distract from Kirchner’s corruption trial.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
After failing to score on the last 22 chances in the regular season, the Sabres have misfired on their first 13 man advantages in the series, including four Thursday.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
Even the Matthew Tkachuk trade, which seemed like a win initially for the Flames, now looks like a misfire with the way things have gone for Jonathan Huberdeau.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Three years of growth and dedicated time to the craft of basketball counteracted one solitary misfire.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misfire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfire
Verb
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The same regulators failed to pay attention when Prospect sold hospital assets and paid themselves the proceeds, leaving the hospitals finances increasingly precarious.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
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Ugarte previously agreed to a $25,000 settlement with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission over failing to disclose outside income earned through his consulting firm while serving as a City Hall aide to Price.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Jimmy’s connection with Tariq, who is missing a leg due to a bomb that also scarred his mother’s face, is rooted in his brotherly love for his father Khalil, Jimmy’s translator, who was killed because of his work with the Americans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
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During a search of Beran A’s property, authorities found bomb-making equipment, per the BBC.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gutierrez had been held hostage alongside two of his nieces, one of whom was three months pregnant and subsequently miscarried.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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Women infected during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, are more likely to miscarry or have a stillbirth.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The league decided to introduce postgame flop fines in the 2012-13 season where plays were reviewed after games and those individuals were fined for exaggerating contact.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
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Those are reasons for the Nuggets’ postseason flop.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Clear agreements made today can strengthen trust, restore balance, and create momentum where things had felt stalled.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 May 2026
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Efforts to end the Iran war, now in its third month, appeared stalled amid new flare-ups in fighting in the Gulf.—
Guy Faulconbridge,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Noun
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The chicken and beer fiasco in 2011.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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Contained within all these fiascoes is a subtly different conservative movement.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Their bite can lead to rapid respiratory failure and paralysis without prompt medical treatment.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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Doe alleges the school’s failure to act caused long-term emotional and psychological harm that continues today.—
Lexi Nicklaus,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While the weekend isn't looking like a washout, a few rounds of showers are likely across the state.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
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On the other hand, cool‑season sod farmers usually grow Kentucky bluegrass, which germinates slowly compared to other turfgrass species, increasing the risk of washouts.—
Ryan Bearss,
The Conversation,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfire. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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