as in collapsing
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 backfiring
But what strikes me also is that this is backfiring.
—
Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, on the opposing sideline, Broncos coach Sean Payton came under fire for a fourth-down call that ended up backfiring.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
But Wednesday’s report about the parking fees quickly backfiring should turn this melancholy into fury.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
And there are hopes that some of the redistricting in Texas, based on a Latino shift, would end up backfiring on Republicans.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
This is a backfiring gift to Milei’s opponents.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
James is one of them, though his kindly attempts to be there for Linda, as amateur repairman and reluctant babysitter, have a way of backfiring, usually on himself.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
Still, some economists say the administration’s chaotic trade strategy is backfiring in at least two ways.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Propping up unpopular regional governments risks backfiring on Gulf Arab leaders in one of two ways.
—David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, on the opposing sideline, Broncos coach Sean Payton came under fire for a fourth-down call that ended up backfiring.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
But Wednesday’s report about the parking fees quickly backfiring should turn this melancholy into fury.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
And there are hopes that some of the redistricting in Texas, based on a Latino shift, would end up backfiring on Republicans.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
This is a backfiring gift to Milei’s opponents.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
James is one of them, though his kindly attempts to be there for Linda, as amateur repairman and reluctant babysitter, have a way of backfiring, usually on himself.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025
Still, some economists say the administration’s chaotic trade strategy is backfiring in at least two ways.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Propping up unpopular regional governments risks backfiring on Gulf Arab leaders in one of two ways.
—David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfiring
Verb
-
Nothing says happy Valentine’s Day like a collapsing birth rate.—
Kate Andrews,
Washington Post,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The couple saw major flood damage during the same set of storms, with a wall collapsing and the house later condemned by the city.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Waterfield's extra point was deflected, flopping low toward the uprights.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
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By a standard box-office calculus, such a low- to mid-seven-figure debut for a nonfiction film with $75 million in negative costs means Melania has little to no chance of avoiding flopping theatrically.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backfiring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfiring. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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