MISSES Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

misses 1 of 3

verb

Definition of misses next

present tense third-person singular of miss

as in skips

to fail to attend had to miss work for a week because of the flu

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Relevance

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as in misunderstands

to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of I think you're missing the point

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as in fails

to be unsuccessful everyone knows that most of the new television series will miss and be gone before anyone notices

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misses

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural of miss

as in girls

a female person who has not yet reached adulthood a talented young miss who wants to become a writer

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as in maidens

a young unmarried woman you should ask that young miss if she would like to dance

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misses

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural of miss

as in disasters

something that has failed a television season with far fewer hits than misses

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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 misses

Verb

Jill Biden misses that, which is understandable. —

David Weigel, semafor.com, 3 June 2026 But the test, developed by Guardant Health, misses more precancerous polyps and early-stage cancers than other methods. —

The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026 This category often misses the mark on these important details, making the instant wrinkle remover technology more of a gimmick than an actual useful tool in your skincare arsenal. —

Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 2 June 2026 This misses the immediate realities of a workforce that is roughly 70 percent hourly. —

Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 2 June 2026 Shankman keeps a steady hand on the wheel, no doubt comfortable in the knowledge that if a one-liner or slapstick bit misses the mark, there will be a bunch more to follow. —

David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026 Gary Anderson misses a Super-Bowl-berth field goal. —

Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 29 May 2026 By statute, the status automatically extends for six months if the department misses the deadline. —

Gisela Salomon, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026 Mary – now 93, and whom Mike describes as the selfless head coach of the family – still lives in the house in Yonkers, and never misses watching her son’s games. —

Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 29 May 2026

Noun

Like with any team’s scouting staff, there have been misses under Brackett’s tenure, including taking Jack Peart over Matthew Knies in the second round in 2021. —

Joe Smith, New York Times, 1 June 2026 Harel cleared 6-9 on his third attempt to stay alive but still trailed Jay Woodson of American Canyon on misses until the bar was raised to 6-11. —

Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026 Carney is a moralist, a filmmaker of fidelity—and of renunciation, depicting the romantic near-misses and what-ifs that his characters leave behind. —

Richard Brody, New Yorker, 29 May 2026 Ohtani walked the first batter in the fifth inning but retired the next six in order, finishing his night with seven strikeouts and 14 swings-and-misses (nine on his fastball, four on his sweeper and one on a curveball) but only 56 strikes in his 99 pitches. —

Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 28 May 2026 Buehler got six misses on 26 swings and went to three balls against just two hitters. —

Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026 Advent has effectively digitized its own intellectual history — its wins, its misses, its assumptions — and turned it into a live analytical layer that interrogates every new deal that comes before the committee. —

Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 May 2026 Phillips mixed in five pitches during the outing — 17 sinkers, 14 splitters, 12 sweepers, nine curveballs and seven four-seam fastballs — and generated 10 swings and misses. —

Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 24 May 2026 What credit freeze limits leave exposed Synthetic identity fraud isn't the only kind of fraud a freeze misses. —

Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for misses

Verb

The third approach skips identity entirely and focuses on economic signals.

— Kaustubh Phatak, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Fennell skips over the ceremony, to a scene of Cathy alone at a banquet table where Edgar’s clingy ward, Isabella (Alison Oliver), gives her the wedding gift of a Cathy doll, installed in a dollhouse identical to her new home.

— Judy Berman, Time, 27 May 2026