1
2
as in soft spots
a vulnerable point
a candidate needing a loyal aide who can be relied upon to always watch his back
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in endorses
to promote the interests or cause of
she enthusiastically backed the plan to renovate and upgrade the school's facilities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aids
to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end
a number of influential people have already agreed to back the candidate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in reinforces
to provide evidence or information for (as a claim or idea)
the author needs to back her thesis with more facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of backs
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026
The Bulls had their backs against a wall.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
In the deadliest attack in Nigeria in several months, the extremists rounded up villagers, tied their arms behind their backs, lined them up and shot them in the head.
—Pelumi Salako, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Ladell Betts, the Dolphins’ new running backs coach, was a very effective short-yardage runner during his nine-year playing career.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
In the backfield was one of the best running backs in the league, a destroyer named Marshawn Lynch.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Others might feel that people are talking about them behind their backs, which can be hard to handle.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2026
His dominant season helped propel the 49ers to Super Bowl LVIII and cemented his standing as one of the league's premier dual-threat backs.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Over his 12-year NFL career, Mathieu became regarded as one of the league's premier defensive backs.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Jordan Blum, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Trump backs congressional candidate who dropped Senate bid to run for House.
—FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
He had just been hired as the Patriots’ new running backs coach, and wanted to begin laying relationship bricks on a regular March day.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
That specific string cover of Taylor Swift’s anthem backs a different Cinderella-esque scene involving the pair, who miraculously reconnect in the countryside after Araminta (Katie Leung) fires Sophie from her position as housemaid in the Penwood home.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2026
And new data from a recent Robert Half survey backs it up, revealing a shift leaders should not ignore.
—Adrian Gostick, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Crockett backs Trump impeachment and positions herself as a confrontational fighter; Talarico is cautious on impeachment but takes a harder stance on cutting ICE funding.
—Thomas Beaumont, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Robert Kraft backs Bill Belichick Patriots owner Robert Kraft gave a statement to WBZ-TV Wednesday afternoon, saying Belichick should have been voted into the Hall of Fame.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
The Giants have hired Willie Taggart, who was the Ravens’ running backs coach for the past three seasons.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
The medley for winter-weary Americans has included everything from aching backs from shoveling to sore throats to frozen noses.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 7 Feb. 2026
The Bulls had their backs against a wall.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
In the deadliest attack in Nigeria in several months, the extremists rounded up villagers, tied their arms behind their backs, lined them up and shot them in the head.
—Pelumi Salako, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Ladell Betts, the Dolphins’ new running backs coach, was a very effective short-yardage runner during his nine-year playing career.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
In the backfield was one of the best running backs in the league, a destroyer named Marshawn Lynch.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Others might feel that people are talking about them behind their backs, which can be hard to handle.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2026
His dominant season helped propel the 49ers to Super Bowl LVIII and cemented his standing as one of the league's premier dual-threat backs.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Over his 12-year NFL career, Mathieu became regarded as one of the league's premier defensive backs.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
And Amazon backs x-Energy planning to build 5 gigawatts of SMR power by 2039, including about 1 gigawatt in Washington state.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026
Trump backs congressional candidate who dropped Senate bid to run for House.
—FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
He had just been hired as the Patriots’ new running backs coach, and wanted to begin laying relationship bricks on a regular March day.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
That specific string cover of Taylor Swift’s anthem backs a different Cinderella-esque scene involving the pair, who miraculously reconnect in the countryside after Araminta (Katie Leung) fires Sophie from her position as housemaid in the Penwood home.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2026
And new data from a recent Robert Half survey backs it up, revealing a shift leaders should not ignore.
—Adrian Gostick, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Crockett backs Trump impeachment and positions herself as a confrontational fighter; Talarico is cautious on impeachment but takes a harder stance on cutting ICE funding.
—Thomas Beaumont, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Robert Kraft backs Bill Belichick Patriots owner Robert Kraft gave a statement to WBZ-TV Wednesday afternoon, saying Belichick should have been voted into the Hall of Fame.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
The Giants have hired Willie Taggart, who was the Ravens’ running backs coach for the past three seasons.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backs
Noun
-
Dogs sniff each other’s rears, African elephants swing their trunks, and songbirds peck at one another’s feathers.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
4 Feb. 2026
-
So much grunt routes through a trick all-wheel-drive system that actually uses a two-speed gearbox ahead of the engine between the front wheels, in addition to a more traditional eight-speed dual-clutch transaxle routing power to the rears.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Look for citrus fruits that feel firm and smooth, with no soft spots or bruises.—
Zia Sherrell,
Health,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Look for firm mushrooms that are free of soft spots or mold.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The group rarely endorses candidates during primaries.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Girl Cory endorses Boy Korey’s theatrics.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The tuber also provides vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant, and fiber, which aids digestion, boosts satiety, and regulates blood sugar.—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The calcium found in milk is also packaged with vitamin D, which aids in the absorption of calcium.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The stronger-than-expected jobs report reinforces the Federal Reserve's decision to hold rates steady at its meeting last month, marking its first pause after three consecutive cuts at the end of 2025, experts said.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The modern version of mindfulness just reinforces separation.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Seahawks called tails, and the coin landed on heads.—
February 9,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Each year, millions of dog lovers tune in to the Puppy Bowl as a way to pregame the actual Super Bowl taking place that same Sunday, played by human athletes without tails.—
Stacia Datskovska,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Once Woll’s bratty vamp was through draining jugulars, the actress found a second signature role as Karen Page on Marvel’s Daredevil (2015–2018).—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In a hearing before the House committee, advocates for the House language argued that short-term rentals through platforms like AirBnb and VRBO are not in fact businesses but residences under Idaho law — and cities have pushed too far to control how hosts use their homes.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Better in Our Backyard, founded in Minnesota, advocates for responsible industrial mining and supports the Twin Metals project.—
Charlie De Mar,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backs. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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