mis·fire
ˌmis-ˈfī(-ə)r 
misfired; misfiring; misfires
1
: to have the explosive or propulsive charge fail to ignite at the proper time
the engine misfired
2
: to fail to fire
the gun misfired
3
: to miss an intended effect or objective
the new ad campaign misfired
mis·fire
ˌmis-ˈfī(-ə)r
ˈmis-ˌfī(-ə)r
1
: a failure (as of a cartridge or firearm) to fire
2
: something that misfires
Examples of misfire in a Sentence
Verb
their scheme to rob the bank misfired disastrously and landed them all in jail
Recent Examples on the Web
Barry Jackson Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 26 July 2025
Drake Maye: 14-of-15 (22-of-24, 8 sacks) Joshua Dobbs: 9-of-12 (11-of-18, INT, sack)
Maye completed his first 14 passes Thursday, misfiring only on his last attempt that got batted at the line of scrimmage.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 July 2025
Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
An arrhythmia occurs when the heart’s electrical signals misfire, making the heart beat too quickly or too slowly.
—Shreya Srinivasan, NBC news, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for misfire
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Verb
Tua Tagovailoa misfired to Tyreek Hill on the first downfield throw.
—Barry Jackson Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 26 July 2025
Drake Maye: 14-of-15 (22-of-24, 8 sacks) Joshua Dobbs: 9-of-12 (11-of-18, INT, sack)
Maye completed his first 14 passes Thursday, misfiring only on his last attempt that got batted at the line of scrimmage.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 July 2025
Noun
Mickelson, who missed the cut that week, was quick to acknowledge his misfire and congratulated Scheffler.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
An arrhythmia occurs when the heart’s electrical signals misfire, making the heart beat too quickly or too slowly.
—Shreya Srinivasan, NBC news, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for misfire
Cite this Entry
“Misfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misfire. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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