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
Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2026
Pine snakes can grow up to 56 inches in length, have black, brown, and russet scales with dark blotches along their backs, and are noted for having a pointed nose, which experts believe may help with burrowing.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
And two teammates compared freshman running back Kory Amachree to a couple of All-Pro running backs.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
The two were often seen with what appeared to be unwashed, exposed roots that fluttered into beach waves down their backs.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 12 June 2026
Behind Fletcher are all the same running backs who contributed last year.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Defensive backs worked on back-pedaling and reaction.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026
Some seats, with their backs to the White House, will be for the United States Marine Band, with a xylophone, a keyboard and lots of sheet music stands in place.
—Mark Puleo, New York Times, 11 June 2026
The Knicks, for some strange reason, play their best ball with their backs to the wall.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
The Department of Veterans Affairs backs VA loans and the United States Department of Agriculture backs USDA loans.
—Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 12 June 2026
Pritchard, who served as a deputy under multiple Yolo County supervisors and spent decades as a teacher, has the support of the Yolo County Business PAC, which backs pro-business candidates.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
The company backs its work for 30 days, which is the industry norm, albeit shorter than some competitors.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Vermont backs Ben & Jerry’s, born in Burlington in 1978.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2026
Right backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel are also expected to be available after recovering from injuries.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
Right backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel are dealing with muscle injuries as is midfielder Leandro Paredes.
—Débora Rey, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
The 20-year-old is not projected to break into the Netherlands’ starting defense, with veteran center backs Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake and left back Micky van de Ven ahead of him in the pecking order.
—Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
Noun
That’s about $6,500 more than in 1999, when basketball didn’t require running backs.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2026
Pine snakes can grow up to 56 inches in length, have black, brown, and russet scales with dark blotches along their backs, and are noted for having a pointed nose, which experts believe may help with burrowing.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
And two teammates compared freshman running back Kory Amachree to a couple of All-Pro running backs.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
The two were often seen with what appeared to be unwashed, exposed roots that fluttered into beach waves down their backs.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 12 June 2026
Behind Fletcher are all the same running backs who contributed last year.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Defensive backs worked on back-pedaling and reaction.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026
Some seats, with their backs to the White House, will be for the United States Marine Band, with a xylophone, a keyboard and lots of sheet music stands in place.
—Mark Puleo, New York Times, 11 June 2026
The Knicks, for some strange reason, play their best ball with their backs to the wall.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Verb
Whether De la Fuente manages him carefully in the group stage or backs him to come through is the first selection question of Spain's summer.
—Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
The Department of Veterans Affairs backs VA loans and the United States Department of Agriculture backs USDA loans.
—Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 12 June 2026
Pritchard, who served as a deputy under multiple Yolo County supervisors and spent decades as a teacher, has the support of the Yolo County Business PAC, which backs pro-business candidates.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
The company backs its work for 30 days, which is the industry norm, albeit shorter than some competitors.
—Sharon Wu, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Vermont backs Ben & Jerry’s, born in Burlington in 1978.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2026
Right backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel are also expected to be available after recovering from injuries.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
Right backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel are dealing with muscle injuries as is midfielder Leandro Paredes.
—Débora Rey, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
The 20-year-old is not projected to break into the Netherlands’ starting defense, with veteran center backs Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake and left back Micky van de Ven ahead of him in the pecking order.
—Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backs
Noun
-
When justice recedes, revenge rears its bloodstained head.—
Charlie Tyson,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
-
So, the most damaging scandal of Starmer’s premiership rears its head again at a profoundly unstable time for the government.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Bruised or soft spots can be a sign of rot and can speed up the spoilage of the entire melon.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 June 2026
-
That said, Keathley advises keeping an eye out for any fruit that has mold, soft spots, or a sour smell.—
Stacey Lastoe,
Southern Living,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The summary endorses rather than describes.—
Jamie Cole,
Sun Sentinel,
8 June 2026
-
Retiring San Francisco former House speaker endorses struggling supervisor Connie Chan for her seat, propelling her to a top-two finish against fellow Democrat Scott Wiener and showing Pelosi still has clout.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
And this also aids in a potential transition.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
-
Now a botanist and apothecary, Cadfael aids the local sheriff in solving all manner of crimes committed in and near Shrewsbury Abbey during England’s 15-year civil war known now as the Anarchy.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Spirit Day reinforces the importance of kindness, while also providing young readers with strategies to be a supportive friend.—
Sarah Kate Ellis,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
-
This regular practice also reinforces the factory protective coatings that prevent rust and deterioration.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
For years, the top theory was that water came to our planet via comets — objects made of frozen matter that orbit the sun, often decorated with sparkling tails.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
12 June 2026
-
Modern Pastry Shop is for buying sfogliatella (lobster tails).—
Michele Herrmann,
Forbes.com,
11 June 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
-
And the rise of Restore Britain, another hard-right party amplified by Elon Musk which advocates for the large-scale deportation of migrants, has siphoned off some support for Reform too.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
-
The council advocates for the fair and equitable treatment of African American employees and residents of Sacramento.—
Kiara Adams,
Sacbee.com,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backs. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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