as in failed
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 misfired
The 6-foot-4 senior who accompanied McCollum from Drake to Iowa misfired on four of his five 3-point attempts and was 2 for 8 from the field for eight points.
—
ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
In one sequence, Tatum fired a quick-trigger pass to Baylor Scheierman in the corner, and when Scheierman misfired, Brown grabbed the rebound and fed Payton Pritchard (19 points, seven assists) for an open three.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026
Maroun said Qlayaa was not only vulnerable to Israeli attacks, but also had been hit by what appeared to be Hezbollah rockets that had misfired or fallen short of their targets.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Mirkovic worked free for a layup inside, and Maryland's next possession went about as badly as possible when the Terrapins used most of the shot clock before Andre Mills misfired from 3-point range.
—CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
The Mavericks were unable to execute on the final play of the game as Khris Middleton misfired on a pass intended for Flagg, leading to the Mavericks’ fifth straight loss — a 115-114 decision at Kia Center.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Instead, Donovan Atwell, who was 4-of-13 from 3 misfired from the corner with six seconds remaining and Tech still down 3.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026
The forward had a chance to send the game into overtime, but misfired on a potential buzzer-beating heave at the end of regulation.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
Even if the Rams had scored with, say, 90 seconds to go instead of 38 seconds, because a blitz misfired, at least Carolina would have had time to try for a tying field goal and send the game into OT.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 11 Jan. 2026
ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
In one sequence, Tatum fired a quick-trigger pass to Baylor Scheierman in the corner, and when Scheierman misfired, Brown grabbed the rebound and fed Payton Pritchard (19 points, seven assists) for an open three.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026
Maroun said Qlayaa was not only vulnerable to Israeli attacks, but also had been hit by what appeared to be Hezbollah rockets that had misfired or fallen short of their targets.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Mirkovic worked free for a layup inside, and Maryland's next possession went about as badly as possible when the Terrapins used most of the shot clock before Andre Mills misfired from 3-point range.
—CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
The Mavericks were unable to execute on the final play of the game as Khris Middleton misfired on a pass intended for Flagg, leading to the Mavericks’ fifth straight loss — a 115-114 decision at Kia Center.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Instead, Donovan Atwell, who was 4-of-13 from 3 misfired from the corner with six seconds remaining and Tech still down 3.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026
The forward had a chance to send the game into overtime, but misfired on a potential buzzer-beating heave at the end of regulation.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
Even if the Rams had scored with, say, 90 seconds to go instead of 38 seconds, because a blitz misfired, at least Carolina would have had time to try for a tying field goal and send the game into OT.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 11 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfired
Verb
-
Narcan and other lifesaving measures failed to revive her and she was taken to the hospital, where doctors said that she had been deprived of oxygen for six minutes, her husband said in the video filmed at her hospital bedside.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The House failed to pass a measure that would propose amending the Constitution to require the federal government to have a balanced budget, a measure offered by conservatives to address the ever-increasing national debt.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As the market stalled, so did several of my conversations with prospective participants, some of whom had viewed this kind of press as a victory lap.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
17 Mar. 2026
-
At Twin Rivers, the call to return to the bargaining table came from Assemblymember Maggy Krell (D-Sacramento), who asked school district leaders and teachers' union representatives to restart negotiations after talks stalled.—
Madisen Keavy,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cillíní were reserved for babies who were stillborn, miscarried, or died at birth without having been baptized.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Around the same time the following year, Hayley miscarried.—
Brianne Tracy,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misfired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfired. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
