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
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
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
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
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
-
In the third lawsuit, a federal judge in Miami last summer ordered the facility to wind down operations over two months because officials had failed to do a review of the detention center's environmental impact.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
But shares slid Wednesday evening as Azure failed to deliver meaningful growth upside.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Right now, the Sussex brand feels stalled, and Harry appears caught between royal identity and celebrity ambition.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Negotiations have been stalled for months, and neither side appears close to backing down.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Around the same time the following year, Hayley miscarried.—
Brianne Tracy,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
-
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 30 Jan. 2026.
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