as in to collapse
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in forest fire
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backfire
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Could this in some way backfire on Democrats or erode the public's trust overall?
—NBC news, 10 Aug. 2025
Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
By contrast, waiting until later in life to start HRT could backfire.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backfire
Verb
In the context of romance, decision fatigue arises when the seemingly convenient abundance of avenues for finding a partner start to, ironically, backfire.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Could this in some way backfire on Democrats or erode the public's trust overall?
—NBC news, 10 Aug. 2025
Noun
This is a backfiring gift to Milei’s opponents.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
By contrast, waiting until later in life to start HRT could backfire.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backfire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backfire
Verb
-
Beyond Meat shares have collapsed over the past five years, starting with a 48% plunge in 2021 and plunging further until Roundhill Investments added the stock to its Roundhill Meme Stock ETF (MEME) on Monday.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
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This experimentation is happening precisely because the old models collapsed.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The forest fire sequence is a good example.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The inflationary forest fire that many expected to see has yet to ignite.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The flowers are the best, even if the leaves are lame and flop over.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
25 Oct. 2025
-
In one second-quarter stretch, Smart checked in, hit a jumper, flopped to draw an offensive foul on Curry, then hooked his arm around Curry’s shoulder and wrestled the Warriors star to the floor, earning him a flagrant 1 foul and prompting a celebration from Horford.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Developed in collaboration with firefighters and landowners, Seneca claims its scalable aerial units will redefine how wildfires are detected, controlled, and contained in an era of growing climate risk.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The wildfire has been burning on private land.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Whether that be at bingo nights, around a bonfire or watching little ones march down the street in their costumes.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
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We were headed out to have a bonfire at the ranch with my family after, but the weather was questionable.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Starting in April, visitors to Australia’s Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park will be able to stay overnight for the first time, stargazing by campfire by the world’s largest monolith.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
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Stay at the park lodge to close each leaf-peeping day with a cozy fall campfire.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backfire. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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