misfiring

Engine not catching

Misfiring describes an engine or firearm failing to fire properly—the spark plug doesn't ignite the fuel, or the cartridge doesn't discharge.

The word extends to anything that fails to work as intended: The comedy's jokes kept misfiring.

A misfiring plan or strategy goes wrong in execution.

In neurology, misfiring neurons send signals erratically, associated with seizures and other disorders.

engine

cylinder

Circular-based solid form

sparkTiny fiery particle
ignitionStarting combustion process
combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen

backfire · stalling · stuttering · hesitation · sputtering · knocking · pinging · pre-ignition · rough idle · incomplete combustion

malfunction

glitch

Minor system fault

bugCrawling creature or defect
hiccupSpasmodic breath intake
breakdownFailure or decomposition

dysfunction · fault · defect · failure · anomaly · irregularity · disruption · crash · freeze · lag

weapon

jam

Cooked fruit spread

dudFailed device or effort
cartridgeSealed container for supplies
ammunitionWeapon projectiles and charges

trigger · chamber · discharge · malfunction · hangfire · primer · round · gun · pistol · rifle

error

miscommunication

Failed exchange of meaning

misjudgmentFaulty evaluation of something
misunderstandingFailure to grasp meaning
misconceptionErroneous belief or understanding

misinterpretation · miscalculation · misstep · blunder · mistake · slip · oversight · gaffe · miss · off-target

neuron

synapse

Nerve signal crossing point

impulseSudden urge to act
signalMessage-conveying cue
transmissionSending of information

nerve · brain · seizure · tremor · spasm · twitch · dysfunction · disorder · misconnection · electrical

Categories

car problemsflat tire, dead battery, engine light, check engine, brake failure
nonfunctionalbroken, malfunctioning, inoperative, out of order, nonfunctional
setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
engine behavioridling, running, stalling, starting, revving
fuel problemsfuel leak, fuel pump failure, clogged filter, wrong fuel, empty tank
brokenbroken, busted, broken down, out of order, not working

Opposites

mechanical function

misfiringpurring

Vibrating vocalization of contentment

humming · in tune · firing on all cylinders · functioning

plan/strategy execution

misfiringsucceeding

Attaining aims or following

working · hitting the mark · success · paying off · coming together

neural/cognitive function

misfiringcoordinated

Arranged to work together

synchronized · coherent · clear thinking

Family

fire, fired, firing, fires, firearm, misfire, firefighter, fireproof, misfired

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G