as in collapses
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
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Recent Examples of backfires
FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Early escalation without documentation often backfires.
—Essence, 26 Jan. 2026
Furniture Flat Against the Wall Trying to make a room feel larger by lining furniture along the perimeter often backfires.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 14 Jan. 2026
That plan almost always backfires, though.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
But just as everything falls into place, a work idea backfires, and the fallout cascades into heartbreak and career setbacks.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
This often backfires, triggering gaslighting, denial, or escalation.
—Shadé Zahrai, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
But according to Button, this shortcut often backfires.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 2 Jan. 2026
When her grandmother’s old love spell backfires, Dassy is unexpectedly juggling four suitors from her past and present.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025
Verb
Continue reading … PULLING THE PLUG – Amazon cancels 'Melania' movie screening at cinema after sign backfires.
—FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Early escalation without documentation often backfires.
—Essence, 26 Jan. 2026
Furniture Flat Against the Wall Trying to make a room feel larger by lining furniture along the perimeter often backfires.
—Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 14 Jan. 2026
That plan almost always backfires, though.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
But just as everything falls into place, a work idea backfires, and the fallout cascades into heartbreak and career setbacks.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
This often backfires, triggering gaslighting, denial, or escalation.
—Shadé Zahrai, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
But according to Button, this shortcut often backfires.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 2 Jan. 2026
When her grandmother’s old love spell backfires, Dassy is unexpectedly juggling four suitors from her past and present.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfires
Verb
-
Multiple Independence homeowners suffered structural damage, flooding or partial home collapses that week, including Manuel Ramirez and Michael Thomas, whose home was built in 1949.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Social psychologists have long demonstrated that when individuals merge into a group, nuance collapses.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Fortunately for shareholders, the stock grants come with a feature similar to equity options that somewhat reduces Musk’s payday, especially in a case like the one above where the plan flops.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
29 Nov. 2025
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Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Insurance companies have restricted business and dropped large numbers of California customers in recent years due to losses from past wildfires and concerns about the rising risks of major ones in the future.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Chronic exposure to pollution from wildfires has been linked to tens of thousands of deaths annually in the United States, according to a new study.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Sounds of gunfire had faded; there were no new bonfires.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2026
-
In Iran’s capital, Tehran, witnesses said recent mornings showed no new signs of bonfires lit the night before or debris in the streets.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfires. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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