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
Instead, Donovan Atwell, who was 4-of-13 from 3 misfired from the corner with six seconds remaining and Tech still down 3.
—
Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026
The forward had a chance to send the game into overtime, but misfired on a potential buzzer-beating heave at the end of regulation.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 14 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
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
Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026
The forward had a chance to send the game into overtime, but misfired on a potential buzzer-beating heave at the end of regulation.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 14 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
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
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Prosecutors say the defendant failed to take into account his girlfriend’s inexperience in mountain climbing as well as the harsh winter conditions.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Duffy said 448 schools failed to meet basic safety standards.—
Josh Funk,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While hope remains for that project (more on that shortly), the sting felt more painful after Judith Hoag, cinema's first live-action April O'Neil, said she'd been approached about reprising her role before the movie stalled.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Feb. 2026
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Some stalled due to internal political disagreements.—
0,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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Around the same time the following year, Hayley miscarried.—
Brianne Tracy,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misfired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfired. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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