1
2
3
as in backward
toward the rear
concert security asked the crowd to move back
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in jugular
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 to advocate
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 to aid
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 to reinforce
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
as in hind
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part
she carried all the presents in the back door, as the children were playing in the front yard
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 back
Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 18 June 2026
At the same time, aspirational consumers are pulling back due to steep price increases, so many luxury companies are increasingly focused on their highest-spending clients.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 17 June 2026
Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
Country music star and Nashville resident Brad Paisley added his voice to the discourse this week, urging his followers on social media to back an online petition against the project that now has nearly 400,000 signatures.
—Skyler Henry, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Sean Gregory, Time, 11 June 2026
Heath inspectors observed several dead American roaches under the soda fountain and in the back utility closet.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for back
Adverb
Players exchanged hugs and headed back to the locker room.
—Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 18 June 2026
At the same time, aspirational consumers are pulling back due to steep price increases, so many luxury companies are increasingly focused on their highest-spending clients.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 17 June 2026
Noun
So far, de la Vega said Los Hornos has had quite a few fans in Argentina jerseys — especially those with Messi’s last name on the back — stop in to grab a bite to eat.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Verb
The biology behind blue light filtering is real, but the consumer benefits promised on social media are not yet backed by strong clinical evidence.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
Country music star and Nashville resident Brad Paisley added his voice to the discourse this week, urging his followers on social media to back an online petition against the project that now has nearly 400,000 signatures.
—Skyler Henry, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Adjective
As a center back, Richards plays a sort of middle-linebacker role on defense, in charge of seeing the entire field and shouting directions at his fellow back-line players.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 11 June 2026
Heath inspectors observed several dead American roaches under the soda fountain and in the back utility closet.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for back
Adverb
-
Qatar was not ready for the world’s most prominent sporting stage four years ago, having only qualified for the World Cup thanks to its status as the host nation, after spending the previous 70 years as an afterthought – or even a non-entity – in the soccer world.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
-
Two years ago, another man, Iwao Hakamata, was acquitted after spending more than 46 years on death row for a murder his lawyer said he was forced to admit.—
Yumi Asada,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Adverb
-
The next inning, the Rays’ Ben Williamson hit a two-out single to Tucker in right field, and Tampa’s Jonathan Aranda darted around third toward home.—
Liana Handler
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
-
Sublime is in the tiny town of Muda, and there’s really nothing around except the hotel and miles of forest.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
Adverb
-
The Obama Presidential Center, which opens to the public on Friday, on Juneteenth, hugs the north end of Jackson Park, runs alongside a lagoon, rises 225 feet at its highest, and rolls backward down Stony Island Avenue, settling into 58,000 square feet of brilliantly green sloping lawn.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
-
More complicated maneuvers can be completed by adjusting the tension on the lines or by running forward and backward.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Investigators determined Courtney Getz, who was driving the Nissan, hit the rear of the dump truck.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 June 2026
-
However, Miami Police spokesman Michael Vega confirmed to the Herald after the citations became available that, according to the officer’s account, the red and blue lights on the rear of the SUV were flashing at the time of the stop.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Anyone familiar with a roast expects the comedians to go for the jugular, but when someone with actual grooming allegations gets called a pedophile, one questions whether the punchline really was meant to be a joke.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
-
Wolf packs on the hunt encircled their prey—typically elk—clamping at the jugular when their target grew weary from the chase.—
Nidhi Sharma,
Popular Science,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Likewise, a woman who advocates for her accomplishments may be criticized for self-promotion, while a man doing the same may be praised for executive presence.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
Paul Stanley and John Fogerty referenced label woes; Raye advocated for a songwriter’s share of recording master rights.—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Players are asked to protect Prythian from the villainous King of Hybern by traveling across the kingdom's seven courts (aka the game board) to acquire properties, powers and more to aid in the war.—
Kirsten Acuna,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
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Recent rescue numbers could’ve been even higher, Yacenda said, but lifeguards have been aided by colder water and the fact that some schools are still in session — meaning crowds have been smaller.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
The project also reinforces San Diego’s growing status as a center for fusion research and development.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
-
Activating them during exposure work may reinforce the therapeutic learning happening in the room, helping patients form new emotional associations with traumatic memories rather than experiencing them as immediate threats.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 June 2026
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Cite this Entry
“Back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/back. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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