backfire
verb
back·fire
ˈbak-ˌfī(-ə)r 
backfired; backfiring; backfires
1
: to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect
their plans backfired
2
: to make or undergo a backfire
Examples of backfire in a Sentence
my plan to throw her a surprise party backfired when she ended up thinking that everyone had forgotten her birthday
Recent Examples on the Web
Fiber increases work best gradually Adding more fiber can be good for your diet, but suddenly doubling your intake can backfire.
—
Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
But working with our colleagues in the Morrison Lab at UC Davis and the Raeman Lab at the University of Pittsburgh, our study found that a therapy designed to reduce inflammation in the brain and spinal cord can backfire.
—Smita S. Iyer, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
While demand for the offering appears robust, Cramer warned that an overly enthusiastic debut could ultimately backfire if the stock surges to unsustainable levels before falling sharply.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 8 June 2026
Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, had cautioned in April that Malaysia's blanket under-16 ban could backfire by driving teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.
—ABC News, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for backfire
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Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
But working with our colleagues in the Morrison Lab at UC Davis and the Raeman Lab at the University of Pittsburgh, our study found that a therapy designed to reduce inflammation in the brain and spinal cord can backfire.
—Smita S. Iyer, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
While demand for the offering appears robust, Cramer warned that an overly enthusiastic debut could ultimately backfire if the stock surges to unsustainable levels before falling sharply.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 8 June 2026
Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, had cautioned in April that Malaysia's blanket under-16 ban could backfire by driving teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.
—ABC News, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for backfire
Cite this Entry
“Backfire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backfire. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
backfire
1 of 2 noun
back·fire
-ˌfī(ə)r
1
: a fire that is set to check the spread of a forest fire or a grass fire by burning off a strip of land ahead of it
2
: a loud noise caused by the improperly timed explosion of fuel in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine
backfire
2 of 2 verb1
: to make a backfire
2
: to have a result opposite to what was planned
their plans backfired
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