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misfire

2 synonyms and 0 antonyms for misfire, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To fail to fire or ignite properly, as with a gun or an engine.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

dud

How to use misfire

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

the engine misfired the joke misfired

Etymology

Either a fusion of the older phrase "miss fire" or a direct combination of mis- + fire.

Full origin of misfire →

Frequently asked questions

What does “misfire” mean?

The word “misfire” means to fail to fire or ignite properly, as with a gun or an engine. In plain terms, to fail to go off properly, or to fail to work as intended.

How do you pronounce “misfire”?

“Misfire” is pronounced MIHS-feye (/ˈmɪs.faɪ.ɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “misfire” in a sentence?

Here is “misfire” used in a sentence: “The old rifle misfired twice before finally going off.”

What part of speech is “misfire”?

Depending on how it is used, “misfire” can be a verb and a noun.

How many meanings does “misfire” have?

“Misfire” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fail to fire or ignite properly, as with a gun or an engine.

Related words

back fire backfire hang fire

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Nearby words

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.