as in failing
to go wrong
their scheme to rob the bank misfired disastrously and landed them all in jail
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Recent Examples of misfiring
Manchester United The disappointment of 2024-25 was somewhat rectified by a summer spent remodelling a misfiring attack.
—
Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 21 May 2026
The Celtics fell into an early 11-4 hole while misfiring on seven of their first nine shots.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
Omega-3 fatty acids work by preventing the inflammatory response from misfiring, per Koff.
—Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026
While Heinrich ponders the misfiring neurons in the brain of a mass shooter, Jack’s pursuit of Mink—a character whose skin color and ambiguous ethnicity Jack remarks on repeatedly—leads him directly into the urban teeth of the War on Drugs.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Medication can help but the main treatment is ablation, when doctors thread catheters to the heart to burn misfiring tissue.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Then came the shot the crowd had been waiting for as the Pioneer had been misfiring all night from 3-point land.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
Given Young’s music centers around modern, misfiring romance, the statement was unexpected.
—Ramon Ramirez, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
Initially, speculation swirled online that the blast at the school could have been caused by misfiring Iranian air defenses, as the IRGC tried to repel incoming air strikes.
—Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026
Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 21 May 2026
The Celtics fell into an early 11-4 hole while misfiring on seven of their first nine shots.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
Omega-3 fatty acids work by preventing the inflammatory response from misfiring, per Koff.
—Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026
While Heinrich ponders the misfiring neurons in the brain of a mass shooter, Jack’s pursuit of Mink—a character whose skin color and ambiguous ethnicity Jack remarks on repeatedly—leads him directly into the urban teeth of the War on Drugs.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Medication can help but the main treatment is ablation, when doctors thread catheters to the heart to burn misfiring tissue.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Then came the shot the crowd had been waiting for as the Pioneer had been misfiring all night from 3-point land.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
Given Young’s music centers around modern, misfiring romance, the statement was unexpected.
—Ramon Ramirez, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
Initially, speculation swirled online that the blast at the school could have been caused by misfiring Iranian air defenses, as the IRGC tried to repel incoming air strikes.
—Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfiring
Verb
-
If fees are not properly disclosed, tenants can not be evicted for failing to pay those charges.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
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Some of them were criticized as having inadequate living conditions, and there were also concerns about authorities failing to thoroughly vet sponsors with whom some children were placed.—
Sophie Austin,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Some advocates and politicians say Sampson’s debate style is obstructive, a stalling tactic that prevents important bills from being passed.—
Ginny Monk,
Hartford Courant,
1 June 2026
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Kompany’s full-back options must also be expanded, with Alphonso Davies struggling for form in 2025-26, Konrad Laimer stalling over a contract extension, and Hiroki Ito’s future at the club uncertain.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Germany was missing 18-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl, ruled out for the World Cup after injuring a thigh in training.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
-
Hooker has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with his missing wife.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misfiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfiring. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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