MISFIRE Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

misfire 1 of 2

verb

ˌmis-ˈfī(-ə)r

Definition of misfire

as in to fail

to go wrong their scheme to rob the bank misfired disastrously and landed them all in jail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

misfire

2 of 2

noun

as in catastrophe

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 misfire

Verb

Elsewhere on the weekend’s box office leaderboards, the independent Christian outfit Angel Studios misfired with Runner, a thriller starring Alan Ritchson as a former soldier racing to save a child’s life as a drug cartel closes in. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Sep. 2026 In every one of those three games, Young has misfired for two interceptions and thrown for somewhere between 146 and 161 yards as Carolina scored exactly 10 points. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2026

Noun

Ford stated in its filing that in come cases a driver may experience a Check Engine Light, engine noise, or misfire as a warning that the engine piston dome may malfunction and cut power. — Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Post-Saban, a string of Dolphins misfire hires — Cam Cameron, Tony Sparano, Joe Philbin, Adam Gase, Brian Flores and McDaniel — all failed to end the playoff-win drought. — Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for misfire

Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfire

Verb

Since then, multiple efforts to phase out or ban horse carriages have failed.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
The exchange of threats comes as Saudi Arabia investigates why its air defenses failed to intercept a barrage of missiles and drones fired by the Houthis.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of fail

Noun

In a 2024 interview with TIME, Netanyahu denied making the statement, insisting that the payments were meant to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
Information and statistics are flying around, with some groups framing the AI data center boom as a potential environmental catastrophe, while others say concerns are overblown or even fake.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of catastrophe

Noun

The war continues Zelenskyy said on Sunday that Russia has launched more than 4,000 strike drones, bombs and missiles against his country over the past week.

— Kristin Wright, NPR, 18 Oct. 2026
Fifty years after the last Weather Underground bomb exploded, former members and their children reassess the costs of the group’s violent struggle.

— Adam Hochschild, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of bomb

Verb

From offense to defense The clearest sign that the GOP's cash advantage has stalled, however, is where the money is migrating.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
After Denver stalled out again with barely a minute left, Jason Myers nailed a 34-yard field goal with three seconds on the clock to force overtime.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of stall

Noun

The question confronting Israel and its international partners is not simply whether money should flow into Gaza, but also who controls it—and whether the next arrangement will avoid the failures of the last.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
Special-teams breakdowns — including a 70-yard kickoff return and two field-goal failures — played a big role in the Rams’ 37-34 overtime loss to Buffalo.

— Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of failure

Browse Nearby Words

misfeasors

misfire

misfired

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Misfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfire. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of misfire

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes