He Had It Coming

I keep running across the term near miss, usually in the news, sometimes in conversation. I always want to correct whoever uses it, but I know they are backed by Merriam-Webster etc.. The term will never make sense to me. Why is a near miss a miss, shouldn't it be a hit? Why is a near hit a miss, because that makes sense. I can't find near hit in the dictionary. Maybe I have the wrong dictionary.

Wrongful death. I've always liked that one. It sounds like the opposite of, he had it coming.

I was just looking at the Columbia Journalism Review language corner, they haven't come to terms with near miss either.