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
Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
Aggressive grout scrubbing is another well-meaning habit that backfires.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
As Mars meets resistance from Jupiter, trying to handle everything at once backfires.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
And sometimes the gotcha nature of the reports backfires.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Back on the boy-toy front, Deborah’s PR stunt backfires both personally and professionally.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2026
The system can also be triggered by sounds like fireworks, car backfires or construction noise and has been criticized for focusing police attention on low-income communities with non-white residents.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
If logistics fail, traffic becomes unmanageable or the fan experience is poor, this high-profile endorsement backfires.
—Tim Derdenger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
Continue reading … MUSICAL MAYHEM — First-ever Final Four concert backfires as fans rip NCAA over game delays.
—FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
Alcohol as a sleep aid backfires by reducing REM sleep and worsening overall sleep quality.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
Aggressive grout scrubbing is another well-meaning habit that backfires.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
As Mars meets resistance from Jupiter, trying to handle everything at once backfires.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
And sometimes the gotcha nature of the reports backfires.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Back on the boy-toy front, Deborah’s PR stunt backfires both personally and professionally.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2026
The system can also be triggered by sounds like fireworks, car backfires or construction noise and has been criticized for focusing police attention on low-income communities with non-white residents.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
If logistics fail, traffic becomes unmanageable or the fan experience is poor, this high-profile endorsement backfires.
—Tim Derdenger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
Continue reading … MUSICAL MAYHEM — First-ever Final Four concert backfires as fans rip NCAA over game delays.
—FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfires
Verb
-
According to our models, when a massive, Population III star reaches the end of its life, its core collapses into a black hole, but the resulting supernova explosion isn’t energetic enough to blow the entire star apart.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
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These make tunneling more efficient and safer, by maintaining constant pressure in the area surrounding the subway tunnel, making collapses virtually impossible, Metro reported.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Joel Embiid is a great player, one of the best bigs in f—ing basketball history, flops.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
One of the best bigs in [expletive] basketball history flops.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Noun
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In comparison, from 2016 to 2021, the state averaged a little under 1,300 wildfires during the same time of the year, statistics from the department’s fire reporting system show.—
Megan Vaz,
Sun Sentinel,
14 May 2026
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In January 2025, the food bank saw an uptick in demand when thousands of Angelenos were displaced by wildfires.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls Summer brings swimmers, bikers, and other outdoors enthusiasts to this popular four-season resort; in winter, ski lifts transform into scenic rides, and families enjoy Saturday night bonfires with s'mores.—
Jess Hoffert,
Midwest Living,
9 May 2026
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Others kick things up by arranging private beach bonfires in the evening, catamaran outings by day, surf lessons with Engstrom Surf, and even customized tarot card readings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backfires.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfires. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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