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 down
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as in withdrawn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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of backward
Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Agents made a traffic stop before the man accelerated his truck backward into the ICE vehicle and drove off, according to court documents.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2025
Recurring injuries are also chipping away at Dan Quinn’s backward-hat dude vibes.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Adverb
However, Pribula stayed down on the field, clearly in pain after getting bent backward.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Agents made a traffic stop before the man accelerated his truck backward into the ICE vehicle and drove off, according to court documents.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Then, Pribula threw a backward pass that went out of bounds, for a loss of 6.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2025
Recurring injuries are also chipping away at Dan Quinn’s backward-hat dude vibes.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backward
Adverb
-
Kardashian also opted to pull her hair back, bringing attention to her sultry eye makeup.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
-
There are so many people who are excited to have me back in some capacity as Superman.—
Charles Infosino,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Early in the second period, Matthews used his size to force a turnover down low and then force a few opportunities.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
My weight would go up and down over the years.—
Ashley Hume , Larry Fink,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Moving in reverse challenges spatial awareness, coordination and concentration.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Some of the new parking spots in NuLu allow for reverse parking, in which the front of a car faces the street, rather than another vehicle.—
Leo Bertucci,
Louisville Courier Journal,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Set in Taiwan in 1988, Girl revolves around Hsiao-lee, a quiet and withdrawn girl, growing up in silent gloom.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Unfortunately, further discussions were heated, with no resolve, just more withdrawn behavior while the communications continued.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
30 July 2025
Adverb
-
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
-
Each is wrapped in graceful exterior lines and curves that sweep rearward from a massive hood that evokes a classic Jaguar XKE from the 1960’s.—
Jim Gorzelany,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
And rather than being designed in a Top Secret military facility—literally, Area 51, used for the U-2—at the expense of billions of taxpayer dollars, Planet’s doing it with around six hundred employees and hardly a security clearance in sight.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Wood was a radio announcer and jazz disc jockey and took DeJohnette around to clubs.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The colt has earned just shy of $4 million and the only horses to beat him since his debut are likely to be the top two choices in the Classic – Sovereignty (Kentucky Derby and Belmont) and Fierceness (Pacific Classic).—
Jay Posner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Fletcher has 20 career rushing touchdowns in two-and-a-half seasons at Miami, one shy of tying Clinton Portis for 10th all-time in UM history.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The growing trend of player-for-player marking can also mean that teams can bypass an opponent’s midfield with direct passes when building up, allowing an attacking midfielder, two wingers, and a lone striker to stay high and push the opposition back towards their own goal.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Some investigators argued for a lone killer, while others suggested a network of individuals acting under occult motivations.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backward. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share