as in to collapse
to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect
my plan to throw her a surprise party backfired when she ended up thinking that everyone had forgotten her birthday
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in forest fire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backfire
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025
That stunt backfired for the alderman, who ran for mayor in last month’s city election.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2025
What feels like regaining control — through guilt induction or exaggerated emotions — actually backfires, pushing the partner away.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backfire
Verb
Heat culture is kind of backfiring on the Heat, because front offices know Heat players play best in the Heat system, so Heat players have less value.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025
That stunt backfired for the alderman, who ran for mayor in last month’s city election.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
Noun
When this obviously backfires, the perpetually clumsy studio boss takes a tumble and breaks his pinky … which places him squarely in the care of the doctors that swoop in on an ambulance.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2025
What feels like regaining control — through guilt induction or exaggerated emotions — actually backfires, pushing the partner away.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backfire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfire
Verb
-
That’s very much the case with Two Harbors, whose shares traded in the $60s before collapsing during COVID, only mildly rebounded, then deteriorated ever since to current prices around $10 per share.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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The signs have been there for about six months — ever since a 180-foot section of the wooden pier collapsed into the ocean after being battered by towering waves during an atmospheric river storm that wreaked havoc along the Central Coast.—
Hailey Branson-Potts,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
Dorsey stopped it, but 20 feet from the boat the fish jumped again, flopped back with a loud splash, and zoomed upstream.—
Arthur Grahame,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2025
-
Foster flopped in his first chance to be the starting point guard, and Cayden Boozer would be the backup plan.—
CJ Moore,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, westerly winds will help push smoke from the Canadian wildfires east of the Kansas City area as well.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
2 June 2025
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The legislation wouldn’t have much of an effect on rebuilding after L.A.’s wildfires, as single-family home construction is exempt and Newsom already waived other parts of the law by executive order.—
Liam Dillon,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
And speaking of deliciousness, a bonfire dinner on Calico’s deck easily closes the deal on a great day on the cay.—
DeMarco Williams,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
-
The last day of the shoot was by the bonfire, and all of that was put together from the junkyard.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
Summer is the season for gathering around campfires to make gooey, chocolatey s'mores.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
5 June 2025
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As school lets out and mornings are made for trail runs, the evening stretches on endlessly with time for mountain bike rides, dinner outside, and catching the sun set around a campfire.—
The Editors,
Outside Online,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfire. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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