as in failing
to go wrong
their scheme to rob the bank misfired disastrously and landed them all in jail
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of misfiring
The Celtics were far less efficient, misfiring on six of their first seven 3-pointers amid a 4-for-15 start.
—
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Ilia Malinin bounced back from misfiring at the Milan Cortina Olympics by leading after the short program at the figure skating world championships on Thursday.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 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
His opening goal, five minutes before half-time, was the spark that a misfiring Chelsea side had required and a crisp, left-foot finish from 20 yards out effectively took the contest away from the home team.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Mayfield completed his first six passes before misfiring on a cross-field, 13-yard toss to Payne Durham, who was wide open in the end zone.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Jan. 2026
Mayfield completed his first six passes before misfiring on a cross-field, 13-yard toss to Payne Durham, who was wide open in the end zone.
—Dallas Morning News, 3 Jan. 2026
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Ilia Malinin bounced back from misfiring at the Milan Cortina Olympics by leading after the short program at the figure skating world championships on Thursday.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 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
His opening goal, five minutes before half-time, was the spark that a misfiring Chelsea side had required and a crisp, left-foot finish from 20 yards out effectively took the contest away from the home team.
—Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Mayfield completed his first six passes before misfiring on a cross-field, 13-yard toss to Payne Durham, who was wide open in the end zone.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Jan. 2026
Mayfield completed his first six passes before misfiring on a cross-field, 13-yard toss to Payne Durham, who was wide open in the end zone.
—Dallas Morning News, 3 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfiring
Verb
-
Lawsuits also accuse the manufacturers of failing to warn parents of the risk.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Richardson has prior arrests and convictions in Alabama for domestic violence, disorderly conduct and failing to appear in court dating back to March 2011, Manley said.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For their part, House Republicans didn’t want the governor to be able to hand-pick the inspector general and objected to the changes in Norris’s bill and accused DFLers of stalling on fraud.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
26 Mar. 2026
-
European leaders have accused Putin of stalling in peace efforts while his army tries to capture more Ukrainian land.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Be missing for weeks, nobody can find them.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Raynaud has started 48 games with Domantas Sabonis missing most of the season due to injuries.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misfiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfiring. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
