misfire
verb (used without object)
(of a rifle or gun or of a bullet or shell) to fail to fire or explode.
misfired
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past participleof misfire.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof misfire.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
misfireverb (used without object)(of a rifle or gun or of a bullet or shell) to fail to fire or explode.
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.
And hence misfired plays like this one, in which collaboration among gifted artists results only in a work of logorrheic banality.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026
And having misfired of late, polls suggest that Japan's first woman Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi might manage to bring back the glory days with a thumping election win on Sunday.
From Barron's ● Feb. 6, 2026
There have been other times when earthquake early warnings have misfired.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2025
Cohen says that progressives have misfired in their decision to challenge him.
From Salon ● Oct. 14, 2025
A routine flight to Titan had misfired into open rebellion by the crew.
From Stand by for Mars! by Louis Glanzman
