misfire
verb (used without object)
(of a rifle or gun or of a bullet or shell) to fail to fire or explode.
is misfiring
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present progressiveof misfire (3rd person singular).present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate present.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Vance has been repeatedly ratioed on X ever since, a small but telling sign that the usual outrage machine is misfiring.
From Salon ● Jan. 14, 2026
With the way that the Bills’ offense is misfiring, there’s strong potential for a lower-scoring game here.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 22, 2021
The theoretical ability to beat a classical computer is of little use if the hardware that serves as the physical representations of those calculations is misfiring or dodgy.
From Economist ● Feb. 22, 2018
The military and intelligence agencies promote some spectacularly talented people, but something in this process is misfiring.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 27, 2017
My fight-or-flight response is misfiring, perceiving threats where there are none.
From The Guardian ● May 15, 2016
