as in fails
to go wrong
their scheme to rob the bank misfired disastrously and landed them all in jail
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Recent Examples of misfires
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
That optimism may be a bit misguided, considering the history of emerging sports league misfires.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
The brain misfires on what feels charged or taboo.
—Peter White, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2026
As Wiener, the show’s curator, walks me through, her narration inevitably turns into a litany of the artist’s almosts, misfires, and losses.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 Feb. 2026
There were issues with intake manifold leaks, exhaust manifold cracking, coolant leaks, engine misfires due to corrosion, and water in the spark plug holes.
—John Paul, The Providence Journal, 9 Jan. 2026
In a bid to make Curtis jealous, Castor brings home from the nightclub the 20something Omar for an overnight hookup, but that misfires spectacularly.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025
As the moon and Mercury clash, your intuition misfires.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025
In short, Nix often grounds his feet into the turf when he's afforded a clean pocket, doesn't appear to generate much momentum, and misfires because of it.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
And research into why the brain misfires.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
That optimism may be a bit misguided, considering the history of emerging sports league misfires.
—Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
The brain misfires on what feels charged or taboo.
—Peter White, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2026
As Wiener, the show’s curator, walks me through, her narration inevitably turns into a litany of the artist’s almosts, misfires, and losses.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 Feb. 2026
There were issues with intake manifold leaks, exhaust manifold cracking, coolant leaks, engine misfires due to corrosion, and water in the spark plug holes.
—John Paul, The Providence Journal, 9 Jan. 2026
In a bid to make Curtis jealous, Castor brings home from the nightclub the 20something Omar for an overnight hookup, but that misfires spectacularly.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025
As the moon and Mercury clash, your intuition misfires.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025
In short, Nix often grounds his feet into the turf when he's afforded a clean pocket, doesn't appear to generate much momentum, and misfires because of it.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfires
Verb
-
Trump has warned repeatedly that the US could strike power plants, bridges and other infrastructure in Iran if Tehran fails to make a deal or reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil thoroughfare.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
-
So, the immunity argument fails, Judge – him soliciting funds, which he’s not allowed to do.—
Will Swaim,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
B-52s can also be used to provide close air support for ground troops by acting as enormous loitering munition silos able to drop precision bombs where needed.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The New York Times, citing US intelligence reports, said Iranian personnel have been digging out underground missile bunkers and silos struck by American and Israeli bombs and returning them to operation hours after attacks.—
Arsalan Shahla,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This process stalls improvements for years.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
16 Mar. 2026
-
If his progress stalls out, this team is in trouble.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The computing power of all human brains combined amounts to roughly 10¹⁸ flops.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Bonfire became one of the big flops of its era, and Salamon was the only winner.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In addition to reinforcing the fiduciary standards that are already in place for community associations, this will help to establish stronger grounds for claims involving unilateral acts by directors, inadequate reserve planning, inconsistent rules enforcement, or failures in management oversight.—
Evonne Andris,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The bluntest assessment of Republican failures during this week's elections in Wisconsin came from one of their own.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The long foretold unveiling of the new Dirty Bird duds happens sometime Thursday.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
To see that kind of big-budget artistry properly lionized, given some of the duds the Academy has recognized in recent years—I’m looking at you, Green Book—felt like a true triumph.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Just after a third pregnancy also miscarries, Aje meets a young woman named Mayra in a hospital waiting room and the two get talking.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Noun
-
Shaboozey doesn’t identify as a poli-sci expert but could still acknowledge human-rights catastrophes.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In 1941, Japan’s Pearl Harbor surprise attack triggered a nearly 2-year chain of American military catastrophes.—
Gil Troy,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfires. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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