as in failed
to go wrong
their scheme to rob the bank misfired disastrously and landed them all in jail
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Recent Examples of misfired
And in 2022, after a man pointed a gun at Argentina’s then-Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner that misfired, Argentinians accused the ruling party of staging the incident to distract from Kirchner’s corruption trial.
—
Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
After failing to score on the last 22 chances in the regular season, the Sabres have misfired on their first 13 man advantages in the series, including four Thursday.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Jasmine Nguyen was struck by a rocket projectile that misfired during a block party, flying across the street to her front year and lethally striking her.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 19 Apr. 2026
On the next sequence, after Traoré misfired, Devin Carter hit a six-footer to cap a 7-0 run.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
His teammates combined for just eight first-quarter points and misfired on all six of their 3-point attempts.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 23 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
Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
After failing to score on the last 22 chances in the regular season, the Sabres have misfired on their first 13 man advantages in the series, including four Thursday.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Jasmine Nguyen was struck by a rocket projectile that misfired during a block party, flying across the street to her front year and lethally striking her.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 19 Apr. 2026
On the next sequence, after Traoré misfired, Devin Carter hit a six-footer to cap a 7-0 run.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
His teammates combined for just eight first-quarter points and misfired on all six of their 3-point attempts.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 23 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfired
Verb
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The show focuses on how the Metropolitan Police failed to thoroughly investigate two women’s allegations, which left Worboys free to commit assaults undetected for many years.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
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In 2013, Hall tried (and failed) to replicate the previous magic and his show was cancelled after one season, many blaming tougher competition than before.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Quin Snyder’s Towns wrinkle stalled the Knicks briefly, then stopped working.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
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But by March, the fight seemed to have stalled out.—
Kerry Sheridan,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gutierrez had been held hostage alongside two of his nieces, one of whom was three months pregnant and subsequently miscarried.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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Cillíní were reserved for babies who were stillborn, miscarried, or died at birth without having been baptized.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misfired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfired. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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