variants
or backwards
1
as in back
toward the rear
looking backward, we could see the town receding in the distance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in around
toward the opposite direction
the loud noise prompted him to glance backward to see what was happening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
curiously, the quiet, backward man opened up when around other introverts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of backward
Shelby Wax, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2026
Kumail Nanjiani had the Beverly Hilton ballroom in stitches Saturday at the 78th DGA Awards about how backwards the guild been for quite some time, specifically with regard to its lifetime achievement award.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2026
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
The second was a Seahawks overtime win in Seattle that shifted on a punt return for a touchdown and a two-point conversion on an incomplete backward pass.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
Then, flip it backwards to match the curve of your head and push it further to secure it.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2026
Kumail Nanjiani had the Beverly Hilton ballroom in stitches Saturday at the 78th DGA Awards about how backwards the guild been for quite some time, specifically with regard to its lifetime achievement award.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Power would then be mechanically routed forward and backward to all three track systems.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
The second was a Seahawks overtime win in Seattle that shifted on a punt return for a touchdown and a two-point conversion on an incomplete backward pass.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 25 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
During the penalty phase, jurors also heard from a man named Hung Pham whom Simpson had beaten and shot in the face during a home invasion back in New Orleans.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
-
In his quest to become a better, stronger, more accomplished pitcher, Rockies Renaissance man Ryan Feltner is going back to the Stone Age.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
12 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Back then, the district would hire teachers in the first semester and wait to see how students moved around before extending their contracts to a full year.—
Carley Lanich,
IndyStar,
10 Feb. 2026
-
While the mouse brain contains about 100 million cells, the human brain has around 170 billion, and that menagerie is still undergoing genetic analysis.—
Amber Dance,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
List in reverse chronological order, starting with most recent, college and uninversities attended with years of attendance and degrees held.—
Andrea Keiser,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Acuff later attempted an alley-oop with Isaiah Sealy, who couldn't get a reverse layup from his waist to curl in the basket.—
Matt Byrne,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Flynns’ pompous neighbor, Jim Doherty, a divorcé with a withdrawn, unpleasant son, encourages Catherine’s artistic rebirth.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Off-screen, Affleck has a slightly rougher star persona, while Damon’s can be a little more withdrawn and intellectual.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Two of their toes point inward and two point rearward with sharp pointed claws.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
6 Nov. 2025
-
When moved rearward, the driver-side mattress folds and the front part of the bed base telescopes inside the larger rear section so the dinette can be expanded and used comfortably up front.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The men’s numbers have been declining – only 36 athletes will compete in these Games, down from 55 in Beijing in 2022 – and it’s long suffered from a lack of parity.—
Dana ONeil,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Whirlpool recommends alternating spoons and forks and placing those handles down; load knives handles up.—
Jessica Elliott,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Right now, however, the roles appear reversed.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Kristian Houston was a shy, nervous child who was afraid to speak in front of a crowd.—
Kamal Morgan
February 5,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Continue in the southerly direction, appreciating the gnarled coast live oaks and sound of shy red-eared sliders plopping off their logs into the water.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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