as in failed
to go wrong
their scheme to rob the bank misfired disastrously and landed them all in jail
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Recent Examples of misfired
Los Angeles started with the ball on the Patriots 10 but was stopped on fourth-and-2 when Herbert misfired a pass to Keenan Allen.
—
David Matthews, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2026
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
Los Angeles started with the ball on the Patriots 10 but was stopped on fourth-and-2 when Herbert misfired a pass to Keenan Allen.
—Dallas Morning News, 11 Jan. 2026
Others misfired when momentum reversed, financing dried up or leverage cut the wrong way.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
White misfired on his first four shots, but Pritchard was highly involved early, scoring or assisting on six of the Celtics’ first seven made baskets.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Collison misfired on 7 of 10 free throw attempts, while Graves was 2-of-7 from the foul line.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 25 Nov. 2025
Harden misfired on two 3-point attempts in the final seconds.
—CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
Prescott misfired to wideout George Pickens with Moss in coverage at the Dallas 44.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
David Matthews, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2026
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
Los Angeles started with the ball on the Patriots 10 but was stopped on fourth-and-2 when Herbert misfired a pass to Keenan Allen.
—Dallas Morning News, 11 Jan. 2026
Others misfired when momentum reversed, financing dried up or leverage cut the wrong way.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
White misfired on his first four shots, but Pritchard was highly involved early, scoring or assisting on six of the Celtics’ first seven made baskets.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
Collison misfired on 7 of 10 free throw attempts, while Graves was 2-of-7 from the foul line.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 25 Nov. 2025
Harden misfired on two 3-point attempts in the final seconds.
—CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025
Prescott misfired to wideout George Pickens with Moss in coverage at the Dallas 44.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfired
Verb
-
Krueger said that the initial bidder on Springfield Hospital, which closed in 2022, failed to close the sale of the property.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
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The Bills failed to get back to the AFC Championship Game after losing to the Denver Broncos in overtime, following a controversial interception call.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the bill stalled, amid fierce opposition from the credit card industry.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
20 Jan. 2026
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While Lululemon’s shares soared for most of Mussafer’s time as chair, US sales have stalled and competitors like Vuori and Alo Yoga have stolen market share.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Around the same time the following year, Hayley miscarried.—
Brianne Tracy,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
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So his wife miscarried five more times before Nile and died of ovarian cancer.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Misfired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfired. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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